The Royal Household is a major institution that requires more than just a few frontline family members to keep it ticking over. There are historic palaces, houses and castles to run, events to organise and important business to administrate - and this all means a small army of staff are needed.
Queen Elizabeth II employed around 1,200 staff in her household, where roles cover everything from HR, finance and IT to engineers, curators and chefs. But there have been some more unusual jobs over the years, as genealogy website Findmypast has discovered.
With King Charles' Coronation just around the corner, they have researched the 10 most bizarre roles that have existed - or even still exist – to perform ceremonial duties in the Royal Household, along with the individuals who held those roles. From Gold Sticks to Royal Tapissiers, the experts have delved into historical records from the 20th Century, uncovering a host of unusual professions during the reigns of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II required to help the royal household and ceremonial events run like clockwork.
Gold Sticks
A ceremonial staple, the office of ‘Gold Stick’ has been in existence since Tudor times, when two officers were assigned to stay close to the monarch and protect them from danger. During Queen Victoria’s reign, the role of Gold Stick was moved to purely ceremonial duties, performed at the Coronation and State opening of Parliament when the Gold-Stick-in-Waiting conveys the sovereign’s orders to the Household Cavalry and acts as their personal bodyguard. The name of the role comes from its staff of office, which has a gold head.
This office is held jointly by the Colonels of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals. At Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, the Gold-Stick-in-Waiting roles were performed by Major-General The Earl of Athlone and Major-General Sir Richard Howard-Vyse. At King Charles’ Coronation, the Gold Stick will be the current Colonel of The Blues and Royals, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, and the current Colonel of The Life Guards, Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne, KCVO, CBE.
King’s Bargemaster
The tradition of the Bargemaster dates back to 1215, and up until the mid-19th century, the Bargemaster’s job was to oversee the royal family's transportation along the Thames. Nowadays, the role is purely ceremonial, with offshore and onshore duties during royal occasions such as organising river pageants for the Queen’s Jubilee. The King’s Bargemaster oversees the 24 Royal Watermen, who operate tugs and launches on the river for an annual salary of £3.50. At King Charles’ Coronation, the Royal Watermen will walk in the procession behind The King’s Bargemaster.
World Champion sculler Earnest Barry was appointed the Royal Barge Master to King George VI, and later to Queen Elizabeth II until he retired from the position in 1952 because of ill health. The current postholder is Chris Livett.
Groom of the Wine Cellar
There were several roles relating to working in the Royal Wine Cellars, but none quite as unusual as the Groom of the Wine Cellar. 42-year-old Frederick Shorter Bucks held this position in 1921, reporting into the Yeoman of the Wine Cellar William Skene, while the current Yeoman is Robert Lange. In addition, there is also now a Royal Household Wine Committee that assists with wine recommendations.
1st Yeoman of the Silver Pantry
In the Royal Household, the Grand Service is kept under the care of the Yeoman of the Silver Pantry, who ahead of any event, is responsible for unpacking all the silver from its temperature-controlled room and carefully washing and polishing it all. In The Royal Kalendar and Court and City Register (1885), we find 76-year-old Henry Bryant listed as 1st Yeoman of the Silver Pantry. The role is still an important one today, with the current Yeoman responsible for looking after over 8,000 service pieces.
Mistress of the Robes
As the highest-ranking lady in the Royal Household, the Mistress of the Robes is responsible for the Queen’s clothes and jewellery, as well as attending the Queen at ceremonial events. This role was typically held by an entrusted female member from a noble family. Under Queen Camilla, this position is currently vacant, but previous Coronation postholders have included Mary Cavendish, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, who helped Queen Elizabeth II dress for her Coronation and attended her during the day.
Royal Tapissier
Responsible for creating and maintaining the majestic tapestries across the royal portfolio, the Royal Tapissier has been a feature of the royal court since at least the 15th Century. The last to hold this position was Leopold Cleave, who held the position for 25 years until his retirement in 1936. He entered the Royal Household in 1891 as an inventory clerk and photographer. He died in 1943 at the age of 77.
High Almoner
The Royal Household has employed a Lord High Almoner, an office responsible for distributing alms to the poor, since 1103. At the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this position was held by the Bishop of St Albans, Edward Michael Gresford Jones.
Piper to the Sovereign
The holder of this particular office is responsible for playing the bagpipes at the Sovereign's request, including at ceremonial events. A person has been employed in this position since 1843, after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the Marquess of Breadalbane at Taymouth Castle a year earlier and discovered the Marquess had his own personal piper.
Alongside ceremonial duties, the piper travels with the monarch and wakes them up each morning, a tradition enjoyed by Queen Elizabeth from her ascension to the throne in 1952. Today, the role is held by Paul Burns from the Royal Regiment of Scotland, who recently played the moving Lament during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, and who will continue his duties for King Charles.
Luggage Packer
Senior figures in the Royal Household have enlisted the support of a professional luggage packer to help them prepare for their official events and long tours. Frederick H Weller was employed in the role in the early twenties and likely was responsible for assisting in the packing for trips as well as preparing various ceremonial pieces of wardrobe ahead of official events.
Keeper of the Privy Purse
This role is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household. In 1921, this position was held by the Right Honourable Sir Frederick Ponsonby who was born in 1867. Unsurprisingly, this role was assigned to a trusted contact, which Sir Frederick Ponsonby certainly was given that his godfather was German Emperor Frederick III, son-in-law of Queen Victoria. This job still exists, with Sir Michael John Stevens being in the role.
