THE ROYAL STAFF GET STUFFED
BUCKINGHAM Palace recently conceded that many of the Queen Mother’s staff would face an immediate termination of their contracts. “When any member of the royal family dies, their staff, in effect, become redundant,” said a spokesman. Presumably they would have pension entitlements?
“That would depend on the job, and on their contract.” But surely those whose contracts have been terminated overnight can expect some cash payoff? “Um. Not necessarily.”
Most of the 40 or so others who worked for the Queen Mother - her mistress of the robes, her housekeepers, butlers, ladies of the bedchamber and women of the bedchamber, her gardeners and maids and the watchman who sat outside her door every night - are almost certain to find themselves out of a job. It is certainly not a good time to be looking for work as a royal servant, the market having been rather flooded of late. The same fate befell the long-serving staff of Princess Margaret, 10 of whom were handed their marching orders and politely required to leave their own courtesy homes pronto. The princess’s personal chef, Kevin Martin, who prior to his two years at Kensington Palace had spent a decade in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace, was reported to have applied for a council home. Of the 285 houses and apartments that belong to the royal estate, fewer than 10 are used by members of the royal family, the remainder being occupied on a grace-and-favour basis. Which is wonderful when the royal countenance shines upon you, but rather insecure when the air turns frosty; finding yourself out of favour can mean finding yourself, suddenly, out of a home.
The blow might be softened if it were possible to build up some private savings while in service, but despite their fabulous wealth, the royal family is notoriously tight. Until recently, junior porters, maids and coachmen could expect to make £9,000 a year; it was only last year that they got a pay rise to £14,500. Even the most senior members of the household are thought to earn no more than £25,000. The perks for those laid off after Princess Margaret died, which one might expect would compensate to some degree for their paltry earnings, were said to include free TV licences and free soap.