As a British police officer with over ten years' experience, my job had taken me all over the country, and I had experienced just some of the problems facing policemen and women in their day to day fight against crime.
But the most remarkable period of my life came when I was transferred to the Royal Protection Squad. I was already a Detective-Sergeant by this time, and the opportunity to serve as a member of the special squad that protects members of the British Royal Family is one that is keenly sought after.
For the first six months of my service with the Royal Protection Squad, my duties involved security details at Kensington Palace, the home to several of the Royals. I often worked with officers who accompanied Princess Michael of Kent, when she was carrying out her Royal duties.
But one day, I was asked to attend an interview with the Prince and Princess of Wales, who also lived in apartments at Kensington Palace. It seemed that Princess Diana had seen me on duty at the Palace, and had recommended that I should work for the Waleses. I had occasionally bumped in to Princess Diana, often with her sons, Princes William and Harry, when they were returning from a cinema outing, or a trip to the nearby McDonald's.
Shortly afterwards, I was delighted to learn that I would be guarding the Prince and his family from now on.
More often than not, I would accompany the Waleses when they de-camped to Highgrove, the beautiful country home in rural Gloucestershire. The family liked to relax here, away from the stresses of public life in London.
Over the months, I got to know the Princess and her two sons well. Diana enjoyed keeping an informal, relaxed relationship with her staff, and that resulted in good relations all round. Princes William and Harry were always on the go, either riding around in their go-karts, or galloping on their ponies in the surrounding countryside. I think the boys would have been around eleven and nine when I first began working for the Waleses.
I had two boys of my own, of similar ages, and sometimes I was invited to bring them for tea with the two Princes. Like any boys of their age, William (who liked to be called Will) and Harry, were full of mischief and cheek, but usually just good-natured fun.
Will took great delight in calling me 'Mr Blobby' after the character on a TV show, who was a fat, silly, yellow and pink polka-dot coloured nuisance on the Noel Edmonds Saturday night comedy show (and a great favourite with both Will and Harry.)
Once the boys had got to know me a bit better, they would often enjoy nothing more than coming up to my room at Highgrove, and asking me if I wanted a fight. It was usually Harry who started this game, although Will was just as enthusiastic in their mission to give me a good pummelling!
The next thing I knew, both the Princes would be leaping on top of me - William liked to grapple with me, while Harry would often launch punches at my stomach whenever he could. Sometimes the noise of their yelling would attract the attention of one or other of their parents. Suddenly, Prince Charles would appear at the door, with a pained expression on his face, and say, 'They're not too much of a handful, are they Ken?' I would usually reply with something like I had faced worse criminals than this on the beat, at which the Prince and the two boys would roar with laughter!
However, one evening they just would not stop tormenting me. Both the boys had spent the best part of the evening devising new ways to annoy me. It had started with the usual rough and tumble, and then had gone on to high-powered water pistols, of which William and Harry had one each.
Luckily it was a warm, Summer's night, and the cold sprays of water had been quite welcome - up until now! I had managed to seize one of their water pistols, and gave them a taste of their own medicine! 'Got you, you wombat, you!' I shouted, as I caught William straight in the face. (Wombat was the nickname given to Prince William by his mother. Although he was also known more correctly as 'Basher', due to his propensity for thumping other children at his primary school!)
This spurred them on to even more bad behaviour. Scampering off, soon they reappeared - this time with jugs of water filled to the brim. 'Now that's enough,' I scolded. The carpets at Highgrove cost goodness knows how much, and I didn't fancy getting the blame for ruining them beyond repair.
But nothing was going to stop Harry. He was always the most bold of the two boys, and was usually the first to go too far.
Splash! The contents of the jug went all over my head, leaving my bed drenched in soaking water - and cold water too!
The next thing I know, William has joined his brother, and emptied the contents of his jug over me too! I'd had enough of this, and said, 'Don't say I didn't warn you!' I'd frequently joked to the boys that I would give them both a good spanking if they didn't behave. But I'd never actually carried out my threat until now!
I flipped Harry across my knee, and raised my hand palm-upwards to deliver the first slap.
Suddenly, there was a voice at the door. 'What on earth is going on?' It was Prince Charles, disturbed by all the din coming from my bedroom, and checking if he should intervene.
'Hooray, it's Papa!' yelled Prince Harry. 'Don't let Ken spank me, Papa!'
I thought I was in trouble now! Raising a hand to my Royal wards! I'd be lucky not to be sent to the Tower! But Prince Charles, seeing the situation, said,' I'm sorry, Harry. But I'm afraid even I can't prevent a police officer from carrying out his duty. Carry on, Ken!'
And with that, a laughing Prince Charles left the room.
'Oh no,' groaned Harry.
'Oh yes,' I replied, as I brought my hand down firmly on his backside. Whack!
'Ooyah!' yelped Harry, as I continued to spank his behind.
'How many will it be, Harry? Six of the best usually, isn't it?'
'No!' said Harry, as he tried to protect his rear-end with his hand held facing outwards.
I finished with another smack.
'Ken.' said Harry. 'That was only five.'
'Well it's your lucky day today, I've given you a discount!' I said, as Harry got up from across my knees.
'Now then,' I said, turning to his brother.
'Alright, Ken,' said William, as he came over to where I was sitting, and gingerly laid himself across my lap. 'But just five, same as Harry.'
I've got to say, William knew to take his punishment like a man. He didn't yelp once, as I gave him five sound spanks on his track-suited bottom.
Afterwards, both boys sat on my bed laughing, still keen on more mischief.
'Ken spanked us!' Harry laughed. 'I never thought he would!'
'It was quite sore,' reflected William, always a very analytical young man, 'but not really sore. I wouldn't like to get a whacking with Ken's slipper though,' he said, eyeing the pair of slippers I kept beside my bed.
'Gosh no!' said Harry, 'that would really make your bum tingle!'
We all laughed, and then I warned them, 'You behave yourself, young man, and maybe I won't have to get my slipper out!'
But there would be other times to come!