The modern royal family is a celebrity family. The monarch’s constitutional role is largely symbolic and their lifestyle – the palaces, carriages and wealth – is underpinned by teams of servants. Their contracts of employment require them to stay silent on what they hear and see. Most do, but it’s difficult to keep a juicy bit of gossip to oneself. Consequently, we already know a few of the humorous and scandalous anecdotes. Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants includes many I haven’t heard before.
A young, newly employed stable boy had been warned that many undesirables try to gain entrance to the royal stables. He was to politely escort them off the premises. On his second day he came across a petite, overweight woman dressed completely in black. He held her arm and swept her to the exit. It turned out to be Queen Victoria.
Tom Quinn has researched widely and there’s gossip galore in the book. He mentions monarchs from Henry VIII to the present day. The emphasis, however, is on the period since 1952. Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Sussex are heavily criticised for the way they dealt with their staff. Those working with and for Queen Elizabeth loved her dearly and considered her ‘cool, calm and collected’. There’s sympathy for Prince Andrew and the Duke of Sussex while other royals are rarely mentioned.
If you’re thinking of applying for a job at Buckingham Palace, this book is a ‘must-read’. If you’re a Royal tragic, you’ll already have read it.
Reviewed by Clive Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Quinn is the author of Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family; Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle; The Reluctant Billionaire: The Tragic Life of Gerald Grosvenor, Sixth Duke of Westminster; Mrs Keppel: Mistress to the King; Backstairs Billy: The Life of William Tallon, the Queen Mother’s Most Devoted Servant and many more titles. He lives in London.
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