Trust us—you are never going to guess what it is
It’s no secret that the royals have high standards. When it comes to royal etiquette and dress codes, everything is precise and to the letter—every curtsy, every place setting, every hem length. So it should come as no surprise that the same is true for cleaning the palace and the other royal residences. But the test the royal family uses for prospective housekeepers will definitely come as a surprise.
Do they make candidates scrub and scour the candlesticks until they shine? Grill them on what kinds of old-school cleaning tricks they use? Maybe, but the ultimate test is far trickier, stranger … and sneakier.
So what is this quirky test—and would you pass it? Read on to find out.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more royals, cleaning, travel, tech, humor and fun facts all week long.
What test does the royal household give to potential housekeepers?
Prospective housekeepers have to pass the so-called dead fly test. Yes, you read that right! As Tracey Waterman, head of staff recruitment for the British royal family, revealed in Channel 5’s documentary Sandringham: The Royals at Christmas, she or one of her staff hides a dead fly in the fireplace or on the carpet of a royal room before welcoming every potential new employee.
“Once the dead fly is placed, I then bring the candidate into the room. I lead them into the room quite slowly, just giving them a chance to glance at the room, have a little look at what we’ve got inside the room. Bringing them to the fireplace, maybe highlighting that we’ve got a beautiful fireplace,” Waterman says in the doc. “At this point, I’d expect them to see the dead fly and hopefully pick it up.”
If the new housekeeper fails to notice the fly (or just leaves it on the carpet), well, that’s pretty much it.
What’s the point of the dead fly test?
It’s all about testing an applicant’s eye for detail and their ability to act quickly if something doesn’t look quite right. That, as Waterman says, is “the difference between a housekeeper in a five-star hotel and in a royal palace.” She adds that while half the candidates tend to notice the dead fly she’s placed, only “1 out of 10 will actually bend down and pick it up. That’s the special housekeeper.”
Of course, this raises the question as to whether some of the applicants might just be too polite to point out the fly because they don’t want to step on someone else’s toes or appear rude. (We’re talking royalty here, after all!) However, in this case, action is more important than tact. So if you ever happen to see a dead fly on a royal carpet (and are on the hunt for a fancy cleaning position), definitely dispose of it—in a discreet way, of course.
What do you get for passing the test?
If you pass the test, congratulations—you have just bagged yourself a pretty neat job! As a housekeeper for the British royal family, you’ll get prime access to the royal palaces and estates and a lot of perks. You’ll be based in either London or Windsor Castle, where you’ll keep the royals’ most private rooms neat and tidy, take care of guests and work front-of-house at functions and events. You’ll also occasionally travel to other palaces as part of your role.
You’re entitled to 25 days of annual leave (30 days after working at the palace for 10 years), bank holidays, a pension plan, maternity and paternity leave and pay, and volunteering days, as well as physical and mental health support. Now for the fun stuff: You’ll also get free tickets to all palaces and galleries of the Royal Collection Trust (including special arrangements for concerts or exhibitions) and a 20% discount at their gift shops. Lunch at the palace on work days is also included. Fancy!
Of course, no job is perfect, so here’s the catch with this one: Working for one of the world’s wealthiest families doesn’t mean you’ll get rich yourself. The palace housekeepers are paid £24,188 ($32,000) annually for a 40-hour week, with shifts spread across all seven days. This is equivalent to the minimum wage in the U.K. On the bright side, you have a high chance of bumping into senior royals once in a while (and will call them your bosses). You can also live in one of the royal palaces if you would like to—and, let’s be honest, who would say no to that offer?!
What other skills do you need to become a royal housekeeper?
Surprisingly, not many. Previous professional cleaning experience or hospitality roles are not essential. According to past job posts of the royal household, it’s more important to have a “proactive approach and ability to tackle new challenges,” along with attention to detail (not limited to dead flies!), team spirit, good time-management skills and an interest in learning new things. It also should go without saying that you’re expected to be 100% trustworthy and refrain from gossiping about the royal family or spilling any juicy details that go on behind closed palace doors.
RELATED:
- Queen Elizabeth Actually Loved Doing This Very Annoying Cleaning Task—And Yes, She Did It Herself!
- The Surprising Reason Why King Charles and Camilla Have Separate Homes
- Prince William Just Made a Confession About His Home Life with Kate—And You’re Totally Going to Relate
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Sandringham: The Royals at Christmas
- Business Insider: “The Queen is hiring a housekeeper, but you’ll need to spot a dead fly hidden in Windsor Castle to get the job”
- Royal.uk: “Rewards and benefits”
- The Royal Household: “Working for us: Housekeeping assistant”
- Sky News Australia: “Buckingham Palace puts up housekeeping job advert offering below UK minimum wage, before amending salary ‘error'”
- Royal Collection Trust
