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Nobody outside the Royal Household really knows the luxurious extent of the lifestyle of the family at its heart.
Outwardly, they give the impression of being frugal and parsimonious – which they often are, even though Princess Anne prefers to call it, ‘good old-fashioned Hanoverian Housekeeping’.
But this frugality does not apply to what they eat, drink, wear, drive and ride.
They enjoy only the best that money can buy, even if they instruct their staff to negotiate the best deals when ordering on their behalf.
As a family they take luxury for granted and hold loyalty above all other virtues.
When Queen Camilla still smoked, footmen were instructed to place silver cigarette boxes containing her favourite brand in every room. Above: Camilla smoking while riding with the Beaufort Hunt, 1996
Princess Anne hates being driven, even by her husband who has never even been allowed to sit behind the wheel
And as a former senior staff member once remarked: ‘The Royal Family may not always be right, but they are never wrong.’
The idea of having to accept second best in anything simply does not occur to any of the family.
The attention to detail the royals insist upon is remarkable in this day and age.
For instance, when Camilla still smoked, footmen were apparently instructed to place silver cigarette boxes containing her favourite brand in every room.
They also had to make sure that matchbox holders in solid silver containers were placed upright near at hand with one match half withdrawn so she did not have to scrabble about looking for a light.
When entertainers are summoned to entertain the Royal Family, they are given a seven-page document instructing them in how to behave.
For example, they are told they must not, under any circumstances, slouch or lean against bars or tables, bow ties should be of the self-tie variety and performers are not allowed to speak to any member of the Royal Family unless spoken to first.
Hatchards are ‘invited’ to provide copies of the latest books, before official publication date and always in hard back and unopened, as they love the feel of a brand new book.
Whenever Queen Camilla is expected at a private home, five minutes before HM arrives her police officer rings the hostess on their mobile so that the door is open
Hatchards are ‘invited’ to provide copies of the latest books, before publication date – always in hard back. Above: Charles reading a book at the Badminton Horse Trials, 1980
They like to have more than one copy of each book so they can leave the one they are reading in one room and pick up the identical copy, marked by a footman or housemaid, at the correct page.
The same applies to films. Television and film companies supply the Palace with the latest releases, before the general public see them, so the King and Queen can have a preview.
The royal valets are shown how to tie their masters’ shoelaces. Some have to be cross-stitched and others simply tied straight.
And all laces have to be ironed whenever the shoes are taken off.
The valets keep a checklist of the outfits worn on a particular day, and where, so they can tell their principals if they have worn something to the same place on more than one occasion.
The King also has a fully equipped barbershop immediately above his rooms in Buckingham Palace where his hairdresser comes once a week to touch up the royal locks.
Valet Ken Stronach in the uniform room at Kensington Palace cleaning a ceremonial sword, 1986
King Charles III’s police protection officer helps him put on his overcoat after a visit to Luton Town Hall, December 2022
Prince Edward was once said (but never proven) to have sacked a butler because the man was not outside the house when he arrived back and Edward had to open the car door himself
The only time Queen Camilla leaves the Palace for a medical appointment is to go to the dentist in Wimpole Street, Marylebone, because that is where there is a fully equipped surgery.
Otherwise, doctors and nurses are all summoned to wherever she is at the time.
Whenever Queen Camilla is expected at a private home, five minutes before HM arrives her police officer rings the hostess on their mobile so that the door is open.
The late Queen Elizabeth never rang a doorbell in her life.
The Princess Royal hates being driven, even by her husband who has never even been allowed to sit behind the wheel.
The King’s suits, of which he has 60, cost upwards of £5,000 each, while his shirts, all hand-made, cost £1,000 and he has more than 200, while his collar stiffeners are solid gold.
His collection of ties, regimental, club and personal, runs to over 500.
A serving soldier based at Birdcage Walk, polishes His Majesty’s boots and shoes every day – he has 50 pairs each costing over £2,000 to make by Lobb of St James’s – and a housemaid hand washes his silk underwear as soon as it is discarded.
Nothing Charles or Camilla wears is ever allowed near a washing machine.
Prince Edward was once said (but never proven) to have sacked a butler because the man was not outside the house when he arrived back and Edward had to open the car door himself.
His chauffeur is instructed to face the front at all times, even when the car is stationery.
Clearly, nothing is too much trouble for the most famous family in the world.
Adapted from Brian Hoey’s 2012 book Not in Front of the Corgis, published by Biteback Publishing.
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