The Queen of England is one of the most iconic figures in the world, living a life of luxury, privilege and duty as the monarch of the United Kingdom. With multiple lavish residences across the country, one can’t help but wonder – does the Queen have cleaners to help maintain these grand estates? In this article, we will examine the roles and responsibilities when it comes to keeping the Queen’s royal households sparkling clean.
The Queen’s Residences
As the reigning monarch, the Queen has numerous official residences across the UK which she uses for both state and private matters. Her main London home is Buckingham Palace, comprised of 775 rooms including 52 bedrooms, 78 bathrooms, 92 offices and 19 staterooms. She also has Windsor Castle in Berkshire, the largest occupied castle in the world with over 1,000 rooms. Other royal abodes include Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Sandringham House in Norfolk, Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, and Balmoral Castle in Scotland. That’s a lot of real estate to keep tidy!
Who Cleans the Palaces?
With so many rooms and facilities, specialized staff are required to keep everything spotless. Within the Royal Household, the Master of the Household is in charge of all domestic arrangements and supervises three departments – Royal Residences, Hospitality and Catering. The Royal Residences department handles the upkeep of all royal homes. This includes housekeepers, cleaners, gardeners, electricians, plumbers and other maintenance workers.
The Housekeeping Department
Within the Royal Residences department is the Housekeeping Department, specifically tasked with cleaning and housekeeping duties. Headed by the Director of Housekeeping, there are separate Housekeeping Teams assigned to each royal residence property. For example, the Buckingham Palace Housekeeping Team consists of over 30 full-time live-in housemaids and housemen, assisted by part-time daily cleaners. There are also specialist utilities staff such as electricians, decorators, upholsterers and other craftspeople that maintain furnishings.
Daily Cleaning Tasks
The daily cleaning tasks are extensive to keep the palaces spotless for the royal family and events. Floors are vacuumed, cleaned and polished. Furniture and ornaments are dusted. Bathrooms and toilets are disinfected. Windows are washed. Kitchens are scrubbed. It takes meticulous attention to detail. The housemaids famously use a clock system, with each portion of a room cleaned in 15-minute segments. Attention is paid to special treasures like chandeliers, mirrors, clocks and gilt-framed paintings.
Annual Deep Cleans
In addition to daily cleaning, the palaces undergo periodic deep cleans. Buckingham Palace has 760 windows which are all washed inside and out once a year. Curtains and upholstered furniture are vacuumed and steam-cleaned regularly. Carpets are shampooed and walls are washed down. Once a month, 100 room inspections are carried out by supervisors to check cleanliness and identify repairs.
Spring Cleaning
A major annual deep clean happens in springtime, when the Queen moves from winter residence Sandringham House to summer site Buckingham Palace. All rooms are thoroughly cleaned, furniture is re-polished, repairs are made, and a fresh coat of paint is applied where needed. It provides a clean slate for the new season of royal events and entertaining.
Cleaning Supplies
Keeping such vast spaces clean requires a huge volume of supplies. Here are some facts about the cleaning products used annually at Buckingham Palace:
- 30,000 vacuum cleaner bags
- 10,000 lightbulbs
- 750 pints of paint for ongoing touch-ups
- 500 pints of washing up liquid for dishes
- 200 electric irons to smooth linens
- 40,000 pieces of cutlery and china for events
The palace has its own postroom, stores, and personnel laundry to handle the large quantities of household items.
COVID-19 Precautions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced cleaning measures were implemented in the royal residences. All rooms were disinfected more frequently. Particular attention was paid to high-touch surfaces like door handles, elevator buttons, telephones, and handrails. Additional hand sanitizer stations were installed throughout the palaces. Mask wearing and social distancing protocols were followed by staff.
Who Cleans the Queen’s Personal Spaces?
The Queen has private apartments within Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and other homes. Who keeps her personal living spaces meticulously tidy?
The Queen’s Housemaids
The Queen has three full-time live-in housemaids who are solely responsible for maintaining her private rooms. They clean and care for her most personal spaces – bedroom, bathrooms, office and private living quarters. The housemaids thoroughly clean each room every day, including vacuuming, dusting, and changing linen. They also help pack and unpack the Queen’s luggage when traveling between residences.
Attention to Details
The housemaids pay special attention to the Queen’s preferences. All cushions and throw blankets are perfectly arranged and angled on chairs and sofas. Her toiletries are aligned just so. The temperature of her bath water is precisely regulated. Her clothing is unpacked and hung with care. No aspect is overlooked in meticulously maintaining the Queen’s private sanctuary.
Perks of the Job
Working as housekeeping staff for the Royal Household comes with some excellent job benefits:
- Free live-in accommodation at the palace
- Meals provided while on duty
- Generous salary above the living wage
- World-class training and development
- 33 paid holidays per year
- Contributory pension plan
- Access to recreational facilities
Staff also get inside access to historic events like state banquets, garden parties, Trooping the Colour, and royal weddings. The Royal Household aims to be a model employer.
The True Story of a Royal Maid
Wendy Berry worked as a Buckingham Palace maid from 1994-1996. She shared her memories about what it was like cleaning for the Queen:
The Job Interview
Berry recalls arriving at the palace for her job interview: “A footman met me at the visitor’s entrance, and as we walked down the corridors lined with priceless china and antiques, I almost fainted with nerves.” The interview included an inspection of her cleaning skills.
Learning the Rules
There was extensive training on protocols: “We were taught to keep an eye out for the corgis – they rule the roost.” She was also taught how to properly clean and handle the Queen’s possessions. “You can dust around jewels and trinkets, but you mustn’t actually touch them.”
Daily Routine
Her mornings started early with an 8am staff breakfast. Then she cleaned designated rooms, including “stripping” the linen, scrubbing bathrooms, vacuuming, sanitizing surfaces, and polishing metal. “It was physical work, but satisfying.”
Glimpses of the Queen
Berry only occasionally saw the Queen from afar, but “once she said hello to me in the corridor, and I was over the moon!” She felt honored to work there: “It was like living in a museum with the most precious family artifacts.”
Conclusion
Keeping the vast royal residences immaculately clean is a monumental task achieved by specialized Housekeeping Teams. From daily cleaning to deep cleans, every surface and room is thoroughly sanitized. The Queen also has personal housemaids who meticulously maintain her private quarters. For staff, it’s a career like no other, with access to history in action. When it comes to housekeeping, no effort is spared to meet the highest standards befitting Her Majesty.