Butlers of the future get the royal seal of approval

By REBECCA ENGLISH, ROYAL EDITOR

Updated:

Her Majesty's London palace is the ideal place to train butlers

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Majesty's London palace is the ideal place to train butlers

Buckingham Palace has set up its own training scheme to create a fleet of Jeeveses who can 'butle with the best'.

Last month it awarded its first two Diplomas For Butlers (both to women), which is now officially recognised as a City and Guilds Level 3 vocational qualification.

According to Palace Steward Nigel McEvoy, who has worked for the Queen for 22 years and whose brainchild the diploma was, a good butler requires 'dedication and passion'.

There are 20 butlers and footmen at Buckingham Palace and other royal residences.

Their duties include everything from valeting to flower arranging and antique restoration.

Lindsay Steele, 27, was the first person to pass the Diploma in Butlering.

Her colleague, Donna Oldham, was the second successful graduate.

Donna, 29, from Preston, said: 'It is such a privilege to work here. It is hard work and the hours can be quite long but the word "No" is not in our vocabulary. We pride ourselves on getting it right.'

Demand for British butlers has soared in recent years and the Guild of Butlers now claims that with only 5,000 butlers working in the UK, the number could double and there still would not be enough.

Mr McEvoy runs the Butlers Diploma alongside Thames Valley University.

He says a good butler must be unobtrusive but always available and discretion is paramount.

He said: "It takes dedication, passion and organisational skills.

"You have to keep your feet on the ground, detaching yourself from your environment to just provide a good standard of service, no matter who you are serving."

Regal grandeur: The Buckingham Palace banqueting hall, where the place settings take time - and dedication

Regal grandeur: The Buckingham Palace banqueting hall, where the place settings take time - and dedication

This September the course – once exclusive to Buckingham Palace – has been rolled out nationwide.

The aim is to bring Buckingham Palace standards to the masses and to nurture a new generation of elite butlers who will provide service fit for a Queen.

Graduates from the scheme can expect a starting salary of around £30,000 but, for the very best, salaries can rapidly rise to around £100,000, with appointments taking them around the world to tend to royals and celebrities.

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