Carve out a glorious career by joining the 1,200 Royal Household staff

LOOKING for a career that’s happy and glorious? Consider a role in the Royal Household.

With more than 1,200 staff, from cleaners, chefs and chauffeurs, to private secretaries and high-level advisers, there’s a position to suit everyone.

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Benefits include great pensions, healthcare, free lunches and, in some cases, live-in accommodation in one of the royal residences.

While the pay is not always the highest, the prestige is.

And having demonstrated their discretion, many former royal staff have gone on to land six-figure salaries working for celebs and the super-rich.

A Royal Household spokesman said: “Building a career here means upholding cherished traditions and exploring new ideas to take the household and our work forward.

“With the Royal Household, everyday jobs become exceptional.

“This is because, whatever their role and whichever department they are in, our people are part of something remarkable.”

So if you’re looking to crown your career this Coronation week, here’s all you need to know . . . 

WHERE WOULD I WORK? There are five main areas.

The Private Secretary’s Office supports the King’s constitutional work, including domestic and overseas official programmes, speeches and dealing with correspondence.

The Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office is the business hub and includes finance, HR, IT and property services.

The Master of the Household’s Department handles entertaining, and staff range from florists to caterers and craftspeople.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Office is responsible for ceremonial activity or public-facing events, such as the Coronation, garden parties and state visits.

The Royal Collection Trust manages the public opening of the official residences.

WHAT JOBS ARE ON OFFER? They range from entry-level apprenticeships to senior roles.

You’ll find everything from HR, finance and IT professionals to engineers, chefs and curators.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I NEED? It depends on the position but you’ll need to have the legal right to work in the UK.

All successful applicants go through security vetting.

WHAT’S THE INTERVIEW PROCESS? For most jobs, you can apply online then there’ll be a mix of face-to-face interviews, phone interviews, assessment centres, work sample tests and psychometric assessments.

Assessments are usually at one of the royal residences.

HOW DO I APPLY? Jobs on offer now include art handler, demi chef de partie and adult-learning producer.

Visit royal.uk/join-us.

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Can you bank on holiday?

WITH the UK’s first Coronation for more than 70 years taking place tomorrow, workers across the country are excited about an extra day off.

The Government declared last year that Monday, May 8 would be a bank holiday so families could celebrate the momentous royal event.

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Gary Wedderburn, an adviser from arbitration service Acas, says: “Staff may want to take time off but it may be a busy day for a lot of firms.”

Here are his tips . . . 

1. 1. Bosses need to discuss and agree with staff whether their businesses will remain open on Bank Holiday Monday.
2. If the business is open, an employee’s contract will show if it allows them paid time off and how to take leave if the business will not be closing.
3. If the contract says all bank holidays are paid time off, this might mean an employee will get an additional day’s holiday. But if the contract just gives a total number of days’ holiday each year, an employee might not get the extra day as a holiday.
4. If the bank holiday is not included in an employee’s holiday entitlement, an employer can add it. But they do not have to do this.
5. If the business is staying open, employers need to be clear on the process staff should follow to ask for the bank holiday off. They also need to indicate what type of leave and pay will apply if employees are not working
6. Find out more at bit.ly/44mwBFz.

Now it’s time for tele studies

THE Royal Television Society has opened its acclaimed bursary schemes, aimed at helping more diverse students into the creative industries.

The three programmes include TV Production and Journalism, the Digital Innovation Bursary and the Steve Hewlett Scholarship.

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All the bursaries are awarded to talented students from lower-income backgrounds, studying for an undergraduate degree or HND Level 5 or 6.

Theresa Wise, CEO of the RTS, said: “Every year we are amazed at the calibre of students emerging from the schemes, who go on to do phenomenal work within the industry.”

For more information and to apply, go to rts.org.uk/education-and-trainingpages/bursaries.