 In 1958 Prior-Palmer joined the British & Commonwealth Shipping Company.From 1959 to 1964 he was the Southampton area director of the Union-Castle Line, in 1964–1965 manager of Cayzer Irvine and special adviser to the British and Commonwealth Group, and from 1965 to 1969 managing director of Overseas Containers Ltd.He retired in 1969, but from 1973 until his death was a director of J.