A Briton, dubbed a ‘thug’ and a ‘yob’ for his behaviour during Thailand’s recent troubles, worked for the Queen.
Jeff Savage, 48, who was caught on tape saying he was going to loot and burn down Bangkok’s biggest shopping mall, worked as a porter at Buckingham Palace and regularly came into contact with members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries.
He covered his years at the palace by saying he was a driver for a hospital in Kent, but in fact Savage, from Tonbridge, worked both as a kitchen porter at Buckhingham Palace, then a general porter for four years from 1997 until 2001, and then left saying he was going to Thailand.
During that time he wore a navy shirt carrying the EIIR cipher and his job was to set up rooms for official functions. He would arrange furniture for state banquets and prepare the chairs for investitures.
And for investitures he would have to change into smart livery – a black tailcoat, black trousers and waistcoat. He is also understood to have had grace and favour accommodation in the Royal Mews.
It is a far cry from Rajaprasong in the centre of Bangkok where Savage was caught on video posted on Youtube in the middle of an anti-government demonstrations saying: ‘We are going to smash the Central Plaza to sh*t and steal everything out of it and burn the f*cker down.
the-royal-household’Trust me. We are going to loot everything, gold watches, everything, and then we are going to burn the f**ker down’.
In Bangkok Savage, an anti-Thai Government red-shirt supporter admitted he had not been quite frank about his past.
‘I have signed the Official Secrets Act mate, so I cannot make any comment. You will have to ask the big lady herself.’
Savage was speaking after being dumped by his red-shirted Thai friends and before again being remanded in custody on a charge of breaching Thailand’s State of Emergency. He seemed more concerned however at missing the World Cup.
He was led away complaining: ‘I’m going to miss the World Cup while sharing a cell with murderers and rapists! I am a political prisoner.’
Buckhingham Palace confirmed that Savage was employed in the Royal Household but declined to comment further.
