EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Late Queen’s ‘Samantha the Panther’ who also worked for Meghan Markle reveals how she won her fearsome reputation
She is in the almost unique position of having worked in intimate proximity to both Queen Elizabeth, whom she remembers and reveres as someone ‘with no ego’ and for being ‘so comfortable in herself’, and Meghan Markle.
But now, having concluded her service for the Royal Family, Samantha Cohen has decided to explain how and why she was dubbed ‘Samantha the Panther’.
‘The name came about when I was in a junior position at Buckingham Palace and overseeing an event with high-profile celebrities,’ recalls Cohen, who is now chief of staff at mining company Rio Tinto.
‘An agent called asking if someone was on the guest list.
I said, ‘Sorry, they’re not’. They kept phoning back and I said, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t invite everyone’. The next day I was in the Press.’
Having concluded her service for the Royal Family , Samantha Cohen has decided to explain how and why she was dubbed ‘Samantha the Panther’
Cohed served Queen Elizabeth for 17 years and took on the role of private secretary to Meghan and Harry at the Queen’s request
Cohen only lasted 18 months as private secretary to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry but resigned 18 months later after being ‘harshly treated’, according to royal author Valentine Low
Cohen, an Australian, is, of course, far too discreet to disclose the identity of the ‘high-profile celebrity’ whose agent was making such desperate efforts on behalf of his client.
But, at the time, there were detailed — and gleeful — reports recording who had made it on to the list of Britain’s 200 most powerful and most successful women.
Their reward was an invitation to a lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Tamara Mellon, creator of Jimmy Choo shoes, Heather Mills — at the time, married to Sir Paul McCartney — and Jemima Goldsmith all made the cut.
But Victoria Beckham did not.
Asked to explain the omission of the erstwhile Spice Girl, Cohen answered with splendid candour.
‘Being rich is not enough,’ she explained. ‘These are people who are outstanding in their field or have been icons who have made a contribution in some way.’
Though refraining from public comment, fashion designer Victoria was said to have been ‘deeply disappointed’ not to have been recognised for her work for the NSPCC, Comic Relief and the Meningitis Research Foundation.
Cohen, who served Queen Elizabeth for 17 years, subsequently became private secretary to Meghan and Harry — a role she took at the Queen’s request.
She resigned 18 months later, after being ‘harshly treated’, according to royal author Valentine Low.
