King Charles has decided that he will never live at Buckingham Palace, instead choosing to remain living at his beloved London residence, Clarence House. However, the palace is still of great cultural significance, and will remain where the monarch hosts and occasionally works. The 775-room building requires an army of around 800 staff members to keep it running smoothly, but former employees of the palace are failing to agree…
According to the company review website, Glassdoor, the palace has a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars in terms of employee satisfaction, and the reviews listed on the site are a mixed bag. Some say it is a "great place" to work, while others cite "bad management" as being a downside. Only 22 per cent of former employees would recommend the company to a friend.
Perks of working for royalty
While the pay is often standard for royal palace roles, there are multiple perks that come with working for His Majesty, including complimentary meals at work and often on-site accommodation.
Former royal chef, Darren McGrady, has previously opened up about what it was like working at Buckingham Palace, saying: "Cooking at Buckingham Palace was amazing. It was everything I expected it to be. They have the most amazing produce, the best quality food, the best ingredients to work with. Just little things like picking up the phone and calling Harrods and asking for a rack of lamb with a two-inch eye of meat and six bones – you got everything you wanted."
The future of the palace under King Charles' vision
While plans for the palace haven't been specifically detailed, the monarch has made clear that he wants to open more of it up for public access, similar to what he has done at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The King believes the palace should be used for "greater public benefit rather than greater private benefit," representatives have said.
© Samir Hussein./WireImage"It will remain a working home, but we are seeking to widen public access precisely to maximise the national benefit of a publicly-funded building."
James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse, announced: "This is both a change from the past and a recognition of the future. Let me be clear, however, that in all other ways Buckingham Palace will continue to be both the ceremonial and operational centre of royal life.
"It is and will remain Monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the sovereign’s standard flying proudly from the roof whenever His Majesty is in London, just as it has done since accession."
