Sir William Heseltine: key obituary facts
Is Sir William Heseltine dead? Yes. Sir William Heseltine died on October 2, 2026, at age 96.
Cause of death: Sir William Heseltine's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Sir William Heseltine known for?
He was an Australian civil servant.
More about Sir William Heseltine
Born: 30 July 1930.
Place of birth: Wyalkatchem.
Gender: male.
Occupation: civil servant, party secretary, press secretary, business executive.
Nationality: Australia.
Education: University of Western Australia, Christ Church Grammar School.
Employer: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Elizabeth II, Liberal Party of Australia, P&O Cruises Australia.
Awards: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Centenary Medal, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Companion of the Order of the Bath, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Member of the Royal Victorian Order.
Also known as: William Frederick Payne Heseltine, Sir William Heseltine, William Frederick Heseltine, Sir William Frederick Payne Heseltine.
Sir William Heseltine, the Australian civil servant who served as private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II from 1986 to 1990, died on October 2, 2026, aged 96.
Born William Frederick Payne Heseltine in Wyalkatchem, Western Australia, he studied at Christ Church Grammar School and the University of Western Australia before joining Australia’s Prime Minister’s Department in 1951. He later worked for the Liberal Party of Australia and moved into royal service in the mid-1960s, beginning as assistant press secretary and later becoming press secretary to the Queen.
His career also included senior honours from the Crown, among them appointments to the Order of the Bath and the Royal Victorian Order.