This is the single rarest piece ever to come through the door. not only is it a beautifully rare piece, its a rare piece with amazing provenance that leads all the way through the British army and right to the royal family. This is the greatcoat of Major General sir Christopher J Airy, an impeccable piece in a Size 42L this is a pristine example of perhaps the most unique jacket on the market, its price reflects that. Seldom does an item come up that has both a military and royal connection in quite such a direct way
Major General Sir Christopher John Airy KCVO CBE (1934–2025)
Major General Sir Christopher John Airy was one of the last generation of senior British Army officers whose careers bridged the post-war Empire, the Cold War and the modern British Army. Although he is perhaps best remembered publicly for his brief and difficult period as private secretary to the Prince and Princess of Wales, his military career spanned thirty-five years and culminated in command of the Household Division and London District—one of the most prestigious appointments available to a Guards officer.
Early life
Airy was born on 8 March 1934 at the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital in Woolwich into an Army family. His father, Lieutenant-Colonel Eustace "Tim" Airy, first qualified as an RAF pilot before transferring into the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). During Christopher's childhood the family lived in Gibraltar, where his father was responsible for security of the tunnels beneath the Rock.
When the Second World War broke out the family returned to Britain by sea. One story Airy later recalled was watching torpedo tracks passing through the water from the deck of the ship before understanding what they actually were. The experience, combined with growing up in a military household, left a lasting impression.
Following the war he attended Marlborough College, spent time studying French civilisation at the Sorbonne in Paris, and entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, commissioning into the Grenadier Guards in 1954.
Early military career
Airy's first years in uniform coincided with the twilight of Britain's imperial commitments.
His battalion deployed to Malta during the Suez Crisis in 1956, training extensively for operations that ultimately never materialised after political intervention halted the campaign. Shortly afterwards he found himself again preparing for combat during the Lebanon Crisis while stationed in Cyprus, although once more events overtook military planning before his battalion deployed.
These experiences typified the Army of the late 1950s—constantly preparing for intervention across Britain's shrinking empire, often without actually seeing combat.
Rising through the Guards
Airy rapidly developed a reputation as an exceptionally capable staff officer.
By only twenty-six he became Personal Military Assistant to the Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, an unusually senior appointment for such a young officer. He was therefore working inside the War Office during one of the biggest political scandals in British history—the Profumo Affair of 1963. Although Airy had already returned to regimental duty by the time Profumo resigned, the two men reportedly remained in contact afterwards.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he alternated between command and high-level staff appointments, serving as:
- Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General
- Regimental Adjutant
- Brigade Major of 4th Guards Brigade
- Military Assistant to the Master-General of the Ordnance
before an unexpected transfer from the Grenadier Guards to command the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in 1974. Such transfers between Guards regiments were uncommon and surprised many contemporaries.
Commanding the Scots Guards
As Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, Airy led the battalion during Operation Banner in Belfast as well as on numerous British Army of the Rhine exercises during the height of the Cold War.
He developed a reputation as an extremely professional, traditional Guards officer—immaculately turned out, courteous and highly disciplined. Some within the Scots Guards joked he retained "more than a touch of residual Grenadier," reflecting his precise standards and formality. One famous anecdote recalls him correcting a Guardsman in Belfast for tying his puttees incorrectly.
The Falklands War
Following brigade command in Germany, Airy became Assistant Chief of Staff at United Kingdom Land Forces.
When Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982 he was responsible for identifying additional infantry units to reinforce the Task Force. He selected the Welsh Guards and 2nd Battalion Scots Guards to join 5 Infantry Brigade.
Although 5 Brigade later suffered criticism over its hurried preparation and deployment, historians generally agree responsibility was spread across multiple headquarters and commanders rather than resting solely with Airy's decisions.
Household Division
Promotion to Major General followed in 1983.
After attending the Royal College of Defence Studies, Airy became:
- Major-General Commanding the Household Division
- General Officer Commanding London District
from 1986 until 1989.
This appointment placed him in command of Britain's ceremonial Army—responsible for the Guards Division, Trooping the Colour, state occasions and the military presence around the Royal Household. It represented the pinnacle of a Guards officer's career.
His service was recognised with appointment as:
-
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1984
-
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) upon retirement in 1989.
Charles, Diana and Jimmy Savile
Airy's most famous public appointment came after retirement.
In 1990 he became Private Secretary and Treasurer to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The appointment itself remains one of the more unusual episodes in recent royal history because it reportedly came after a recommendation from Jimmy Savile, who at that time enjoyed remarkable access to members of the Royal Family and senior public figures—years before his crimes became known.
Unfortunately the role proved a poor fit.
Airy entered a Royal Household already fracturing under the deteriorating relationship between Charles and Diana. His formal military style clashed with the increasingly informal atmosphere within Charles's household, and he reportedly struggled to navigate the competing factions that had formed around the royal couple.
He resigned after less than a year, later describing it as a "fated service" that haunted him despite an otherwise distinguished career.
Later life
Following his departure from St James's Palace, Airy retired with his wife Judith to Somerset.
Away from public life he devoted considerable time to veterans' charities, particularly The Not Forgotten, supporting wounded, injured and isolated former servicemen and women. He also remained involved in military organisations and retained close links with the Guards regiments throughout his retirement.
His wife of sixty-five years, Judith, died in January 2025. Sir Christopher died on 8 April 2025, aged ninety-one.
Legacy
History will probably remember Christopher Airy less for his brief, uncomfortable time at the centre of royal drama than for his long career as a consummate Guards officer.
He belonged to a generation that served through the last years of Britain's imperial commitments, the Cold War, Northern Ireland, and the ceremonial traditions of the Household Division. Impeccably turned out, meticulous in standards and deeply committed to military service, he embodied the old-school Guards ethos of discipline, duty and discretion.
For collectors, a coat belonging to Sir Christopher Airy is therefore more than just an officer's greatcoat. It represents a career that stretched from the Suez Crisis to the gates of Buckingham Palace—a tangible piece of British military history worn by one of the last senior Guards officers of that era.
Features include:
- Double breasted design
- Full length
- Fitting back belt
- High rise collar
- Made from 100% wool
- Excellent condition.
