THE QUEEN’S HOUSEKEEPER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7021, 8 January 1910, Page 11

THE QUEEN’S HOUSEKEEPER

SOME OF HER DUTIES., The responsible post of bead _ bousekeeper at Buckingham Palace is held by Mrs Rosalie Dodds, ■who is on© of the most ‘ trusted servants of the King and Queen. t» ** Her duties, says a writer in 'M.A.P., are of an extremely responsible character, and the position she holds could only-be occupied by one who had been in the Royal Households for some time, and who was thoroughly •well versed in the routine work ot the housekeeper s department. Mrs Dodds was housekeeper at Marlborough House, and after the King s accession to the throne was appointed to the post she now so ably fills. The entire staff of women servants at Buckingham Palace are under her control and supervision, and it goes without saying that Mrs ’ Dodds is a firstrate organiser and disciplinarian. WHAT THE PRINCESS WOULD LIKE.. Mrs Dodds is frequently able to supplement the instructions she receives in such matters. For example, on on© occasion when a certain Royal Princess was coming to Buckingham Palace, Queen Alexandra, on going to inspect the rooms that had been prepared for the reception "of her Royal Highness, was rather surprised to see a powerful telescope placed next to a comfortable ebair by tho window. . "What a very curious object that m to put in the Princess's room," said the Queen to Mrs Dodds. "Did you receive any special orders to do v so?" "No, your Majesty." replied the housekeeper, "but her Royal Highness, the last time she was here told me that the way she would like to see London would be to sit by that window and look over the city with a good telescope, so I thought it would be a good thing to put one in tho room this time." . The head housekeeper's department is under the control of the Lord Chamberlain, and it is from that official's department that Mrs Dodds' instructions reach her in the ordinary way, but the Queen often gives instructions to the head housekeeper personally on special occasions, such as the coming of any troyal visitor. ROYAL SERVANTS' "OUTINGS.” Dismissal from th© royal service is a thing practically unheard of, but from time to time marriage creates a vacancy in the staff of maids employed in the royal household. Their Majesties invariably mate tb© girl a wedding present, and very often find the couple good employment on th© royal estates,. Every _ afternoon a certain number of the maids at f the Palace are released from duty between three apd six o'clock, and a comfortable sitting-room is provided for them,, where, they can read, or do their own work. Should a maid, however, desire to go out, she can do so on obtaining permission. The head housekeeper has, in accordance with the Queen’s desire, put the "outings" of the maidservants on a very systematic footing. Each maid is allowed out on© day, every week from 7 to 9.45. She must be scrupulously punctual- in observing these hours, and report herself to the housekeeper on her return. Each maid is also allowed out two days in the month from 10 a-m. to 9 p.m., and gets a fortnight's holiday every year.