Royal Household staff list online

Rarely-viewed records showing who served Britain’s kings and queens are to be made available online for the first time.

The collection will help people find out if their relatives were employed by monarchs in anything from common roles to more unusual jobs such as Chocolate Maker to the Queen and Keeper of the Lions in the Tower.

The Royal Household staff lists are being made available online for the first time by family history website findmypast.co.uk, in association with the Royal Archives, to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee.

Previously only accessible at Windsor Castle by appointment, the rarely-viewed records include 50,000 staff records from the reign of King Charles II to King George V between 1660 and 1924.

They cover royal residences across the UK including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St. James’ Palace.

Diamond jubilee

And with details such as name, occupation, age, length of service and salary, the information is said to paint a vivid picture of life in a royal court and reveal details of life in the Royal Household.

Debra Chatfield, family historian at findmypast.co.uk, said: “To be able to view these records online for the first time is incredibly exciting – not only for people worldwide with an interest in the British monarchy, but also for anyone wanting to confirm family rumours about connections to those who worked for the Royal Household.”

A reigning monarch typically had 1,000 staff in the Royal Household.

The biggest department was the Lord Chamberlain’s Department, which had on average 700 staff and was responsible for ceremonial and social life.

And the staff records also reveal more unusual occupations among the Royal Household staff.

They include Chocolate Maker to the Queen; Yeoman of the Mouth to Her Majesty Queen Mary in the Pantry; Necessary Woman to the Corridor and Entrance Hall; and Keeper of the Lions in the Tower.

Ms Chatfield added: “People across the globe continue to be fascinated by the British Royal Family, as well as the relationship between upstairs and downstairs life.

“In the year of The Queen’s diamond jubilee, this is the perfect opportunity to explore your family history and discover whether you have an ancestor who worked for the Royal Household.”