Royal watchers amongst you will know that Kate and William have – at the very beginning of their journey into parenthood – opted to forego a nanny and instead employ a housekeeper, who may be required on occasion to take on some childcare duties. This is the sort of role that many families opt for, if one of them is at home part-time, or the children are older.
So what are her official duties? Cleaning royal undergarments? Organising the daily schedule? And would you want to take this position. Here’s what I know about the position, with a little help from housekeeper extraordinaire, Mrs. Hughes, at “Downton Abbey.”
Her Demeanour
Direct, contained, sharp, supportive, competent, tired, calm and flexible (mostly) in every episode, no wonder the Crawley family want to keep her. You’d also have to be incredibly polite, even when three changes in plan have ruined your beautiful cheese soufflé!
The Daily Tasks
Organising and getting things sorted, working as part of a team, planning and executing arrangements, living some of your life through that of the family you work for and the wealth of unusual experiences that would inevitably become part of your world.
The Schedule
A busy family with ever-changing requirements would mean that as a housekeeper (unlike a traditional nanny role), your hours would not be predictable. Mum and Dad may know that little one has his nap at 10 am and 2.00pm and that while he is napping, you are planning on preparing the grown-ups meal – but if an unexpected change of plans means that you are all hot-footing it to Sandringham for the weekend, the meal goes wasted and the little one’s nap is disturbed. Leaving you to pick up the pieces in the kitchen and the nursery, by putting in some extra hours, no doubt!
There would be much seclusion and sacrifice of your own personal life.
A quick trawl through the news reports relating to the new Royal Housekeeper for William and Kate showed up descriptions like “Childless Spinster” – shocking descriptions in the 21st century (btw: we certainly wouldn’t have seen anything like that if the Royal Housekeeper were male)!
What about you? Do you think you could juggle all the challenges of this exciting role?
