GUESTS OF THE KING.

Northern Advocate, 12 August 1913, Page 3

GUESTS OF THE KING.

HOW THEY ARE CARED FOR AT

WINDSOR CASTLE

Nearly two thousand persons have to be provided for day by day at Windsor Castle, and the kitchen staff under the direction of his Majesty's chef numbers between seventy and eighty men and women, whose sole duty it is to cook the provisions.

Upwards of one hundred and twent\ footmen' are continually active —these in addition to the royal pages.

Twenty-eight men get out, clean after use, and put away the silver and gold plate used every day for the dinners. The value of that in ordinary use is well over £250,000. For two or three times that amount is used.

Several men are employed exclusively in the glass room, and when it is stated that even the wine glasses are worth 30s each it will be seen that the washing and packing away requires skilled handling.

There is an army of maidservants. Every morning the housekeeper goes round the rooms used by royalty and personally directs a selected staff of housemaids; while the head housein aifl is responsible for the large staff which sets in order all other apartments.

Charwomen, with a variety of occupations, are legion. These, in addition to their payi go away each night with enough food to feed their famil-

Fresh flowers are placed in the rooms every day; this, with the care of the plants, keeps a staff of men at ?.ork. In the mews there are a multitude of coachmen and grooms in charge of the horses and carriages, as many as eighteen of the latter, with fours and pairs, being occasionally out at one time.

While many of the provisions of necessity come from town, as great a portion as possible is purchased in Windsor, much to the satisfaction of the tradespeople, who have lately bean experiencing a very bad season.