Publisher's Synopsis
One of our best-informed royal chroniclers goes behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace to tell the real story of what goes on inside the royal residences through the eyes and words of royal staff past and present.;Hundreds of anecdotes reveal the conditions in which the staff live and work and also their relationship with the Royals they serve. How does one get a job as personal footman to the Queen? Why does Prince Charles still have to send a written note to the Page of the Backstairs requesting a meeting with his mother? Which members of the royal family are best to work for? How does the Queen dispose of her old dresses? How much does every member of the Royal Household earn? How much "moonlighting" goes on at the Palace? What are the duties of a royal valet? Why does the Queen hate men in three-piece suits, and still employ a Fender Mender?;Buckingham Palace remains an independent kingdom with its own rules and customs. Brian Hoey investigates the hierarchy in the Royal Household: the Master of the Household decides who gets the best rooms to stay in at the Palace; the Lord Chamberlain issues invitations to Garden Parties; and the Keeper of the Privy Purse allocates seats in the royal box at the Albert Hall.
