EMPLOYMENT AT THE Royal Household

Ø 1) Paraphrase the heading using substitute words.

Ø 2) Study the contents of the book and choose the texts related to the topic “The Royal Family in the United Kingdom.”

Ø 3) Name the problems covered by this article.

Royal Household’s functions are divided across five departments, under the overall authority of the Lord Chamberlain, the senior member of The Queen’s Household. These departments developed over centuries and originated in the functions of the Royal Court. As a result, the departments and many job titles have ancient names - the jobs themselves, however, are thoroughly modern! There are 645 full-time employees, employed across a wide range of professions. Most of the departments are based in Buckingham Palace, although there are also offices in St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and the Royal Mews. Members of the Royal Household also often travel with The Queen on overseas visits and during The Queen’s stays at Balmorals Castle and Sand Ingham, since The Queen’s work continues even when she is away from London. In addition to the full-time members of the Royal Household, there are other part-time members of The Queen’s Household. These include the Great Officers of State who take part in important Royal ceremonies, as well as Ladies-in-waiting, who are appointed personally by The Queen and female members of the Royal Family.

Employment in the Royal Household offers excellent career opportunities for those who wish to take a new direction. Positions in the Royal Household receive good remuneration and benefits. For domestic positions, they are often enhanced by accommodation. The Royal Household is also committed to training and development, including National Vocational Qualification and vocational training, general management and skills-based training across a range of disciplines - from carriage driving to an in-house diploma for footmen which is widely recognised in its specialised field as a valued vocational qualification. Jobs at Buckingham Palace and in other Royal residences are usually advertised in national, regional or specialist media in the usual way. All positions are also advertised internally to encourage career development and to offer opportunities for promotion to existing employees. Recruitment is in all cases on merit, in terms of qualifications, experience and aptitude. The Royal Household is committed to Equal Opportunities.

Ø 4) Is the text information up-to-date or out-of-date?

Ø 5) What are the advantages and disadvantages of Royal Household’s functioning?