Queen's Pageant Master Auctions Royal Items for Cancer Research

The man who helped Queen Elizabeth II light beacons across the world for 40 years is now using those historic treasures to light hope for cancer patients.

Bruno Peek, 74, served as the Queen's pageant master from the 1980s until her death in 2022. He masterminded the worldwide beacon tributes for her Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees, creating unforgettable moments that brought millions together in celebration.

Now he's auctioning six ceremonial items from those landmark occasions, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research UK. The collection includes the Diamond Jubilee "diamond" displayed at the Tower of London in 2012, the millennium torch lit at the dawn of 2000, and the torch from the Queen's 90th birthday celebration at Windsor Castle in 2016.

Also up for auction are a Golden Jubilee torch from 2002 and the Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Nations Globe, which took center stage at Windsor Castle in 2022. Each piece is expected to sell for £20,000 to £30,000 at a virtual Bonhams auction in March.

Peek's relationship with the Queen was warm and genuine. He remembers a moment during the Diamond Jubilee when equipment malfunctioned at Buckingham Palace. "I whispered to her, 'do you mind giving it a little push ma'am?'" he recalled. "And she said 'I don't mind at all' and gave it a good shove, to the cheers of hundreds of thousands."

The last time he saw Elizabeth was June 2022 at the Platinum Jubilee beacon lighting, just months before her death. "The last thing she ever said to me was 'Thank you Bruno,'" he shared. "It was a lovely moment which I will cherish for the rest of my life."

The Ripple Effect

Peek's decision to donate the auction proceeds reflects both gratitude and purpose. With King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, both undergoing cancer treatment recently, the cause feels deeply personal and timely.

Born to Polish immigrants and raised in a children's home before being adopted at age four, Peek's journey from welder to royal pageant master is remarkable. He started by organizing a local carnival in Great Yarmouth over 40 years ago, then approached the palace with ideas that were accepted and grew into a four-decade partnership.

For his service, he was awarded an OBE in 2000 and became a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2022. But selling these treasures for personal gain never crossed his mind. "I own these items but I could never have sold them for personal gain," he said simply.

Sometimes the greatest legacy isn't what we keep, but what we give away.