Edward Fielden ( RAF officer ) Air Vice - Marshal Sir Edward Hedley ' Mouse ' Fielden , GCVO , CB , DFC , AFC , ( b . December 1903 - d . 8 November 1976 ) was a Royal Air Force pilot and Second World War officer . He was born in Bracknell , Berkshire , the son of a doctor . He was educated at Heatherdown School , Ascot , and Malvern College . He obtained a short service commission with the Royal Air Force in 1924 , flying with No . 25 and then No . 23 Squadron in 1925 and 1926 . He was posted to the meteorological flight at Duxford in September 1926 . After his five - year commission he was posted to the Reserve as a Flight Lieutenant . Flying the royals . Fielden figured largely in the flying activities of the Royal Family for more than three decades , and most important royal flights were subject to his scrutiny and recommendation . His discretion and self - effacement earned him the nickname of " Mouse " . His association with the Royal Family began in 1929 when the then Prince of Wales ( later to become King Edward VIII ) , who had acquired a Gipsy Moth , appointed Fielden as his personal pilot . In October 1933 the Prince appointed Flight Lieutenant Fielden as his Chief Air Pilot and Extra Equerry . With the death of King George V on 20 January 1936 Edward VIII succeeded to the throne and on 21 July that same year Fielden was appointed Captain of the King ' s Flight . Edward ' s reign was short - lived and he abdicated on 11 December 1936 to be succeeded by his brother George VI . Fielden was retained as Captain of the King ' s Flight and his role was expanded . He was charged with the carriage not only of members of the Royal Family but also members of the Air Council and other important State personages . World War II . Fielden had remained in the RAF Reserve and was promoted to Wing Commander in 1936 . He returned to the Service when World War II broke out and at the beginning of 1942 he was given command of 161 Squadron based at RAF Tempsford . In October 1942 he was promoted to Group Captain and took command of RAF Tempsford , where 138 ( Special Duties ) Squadron was now also based . Fielden played an important role in directing operations in support of the Resistance movements in Europe . He was awarded a DFC in April 1943 . Later that same year his services to the Royal Family were recognised by his appointment as a CVO . Early in 1945 he was appointed commander of the base at RAF Woodhall Spa . Post - war career . After the war in May 1946 the King ' s Flight was reformed with Fielden once again its Captain . He was created a KCVO in 1952 . Following the death of King George VI on 6 February 1952 , he was confirmed in his royal appointment and the unit was renamed as the Queen ' s Flight soon after the accession of Queen Elizabeth II . He retired from the Queen ' s Flight in 1962 and at the same time he was appointed Senior Air Equerry to the Queen and promoted to Air Vice - Marshal . He was advanced to GCVO in 1968 and retired as Senior Air Equerry in 1969 . Fielden died on 8 November 1976 in Edinburgh , Scotland , at the age of 72 . Family . Fielden married Mary Angela Jodrell , the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel H . R . Jodrell , in 1940 . He had a son , who predeceased him , and a daughter .