Weird Royal rules

I think it is a good way of checking an applicants eye for detail.

Dylant. I agree with you. Although if a visitor was that bothered about MY dust, I’d give them a duster to finish off the job !

How can they be called royal rules , does a member of the royal family carry out the interviews ?

No I wouldn’t go and pick up a dead fly, eeuw! Then again I wouldn’t apply for a job with them

I wonder if this isn't a myth?

Some people, both royal and otherwise, may do this. After all some Victorian householders left loose change lying around to test a new housemaid's honesty.

It never struck me as being a nice thing to do.

If I were applying for the job, I would probably say, "You certainly do need new help. There is a dead fly on the window-sill." I would not go and remove it, but I might ask where they kept the dust-pan and brush, so I could deal with it.

I read somewhere that coloured nail polish is a no-no. The royal ladies all have short French manicures or a nude pink. Maybe that’s why they love wearing gloves - perhaps they are wearing navy blue or purple polish underneath them!

Oh, I don't know. Matron used to run her finger along the window-sills and the tops of bedsteads, saying, " a job worth doing is worth doing properly". It was us cadets who were responsible for those areas---cleaners for the floors, which were wooden and splintery in places where you'd spot the odd remains of a mop.

It’s not a myth. On a Royal programme, it showed the head housekeeper at BP or wherever demonstrating the ‘dead fly’ test.

If it`s not a myth it`s a bloody stupid thing to do.
It could be interpreted as being nosey if your`e looking around
and not at the person interviewing you imo.

Dylant1234 I read this article yesterday and thought exactly the same thing. If I noticed it I would be polite and ignore it. What a stupid thing to do!

Mr. S. used to run his finger along my mum's furniture looking for dust because he knew he wouldn't find any.

Why would anyone want to be at the beck and call of the over privileged is beyond me. And for a pittance too. ??‍♀️

Is this being reported as a recent policy? Similar tactics have been reported to be used since Victorian days, at least, by ladies (or more likely their housekeepers) keeping tabs on the servants. One good story is of a new housemaid lifting a carpet to sweep effectively under it, and finding a coin placed under the very centre - obviously to check on a) whether she lifted the carpet to sweep properly, and b) whether she pocketed the coin. She turned the tables by fetching some glue and sticking it firmly down before putting the carpet back down over it. She never heard any more about the incident - and she wasn't tested again.

A similar story. My grandmother worked for a while in a guesthouse. She discovered that when the owner served fish, the same piece from an "empty" plate was turned over and served to another guest as though a fresh piece. As Granny was putting this down in front of its second owner, she informed the guest of what had happened. All hell broke loose and the guest left. Granny rapidly followed, sacked without a reference.

Who would want to work with them when they are, apparently, paid quite badly? I suppose some people do it for the supposed prestige.

Elegran Good for your granny - very brave and principled.

If they use that interview technique (ie the dead fly), they won't be able to use it now will they. Anyway, I can't imagine why anyone would think it proper to pick up a dead fly when they are in someone else's space/home.

Eloethan Brave and principled, but not a good move for an unskilled domestic servant in about 1910. Without a reference getting another position was difficult. You can't eat principles.

Well, that's very sad but I still admire her for her honesty. I can see what you mean though - it must have been very distressing for her.

i don't quite understand about the fish, Elegran. had the first guest not eaten the fish then ? wasn't it obvious that it had been picked over, how could she serve it again.

Kittye

Why would anyone want to be at the beck and call of the over privileged is beyond me. And for a pittance too. ??‍♀️

Because afterwards you can go to the States and work for rich people and earn an absolute fortune on the back of the fact that you've worked for the Royals.
You are set up for life.

I'd do it. It would be fascinating!

I wouldn’t work for that family however much I was paid. Now they are truly dysfunctional.

Nanna8 I know, but it would be sooo interesting!

nanna8

I wouldn’t work for that family however much I was paid. Now they are truly dysfunctional.

Define dysfunctional ? There was a thread on this before. I said that I have one brother I don’t spend time with purely as we have nothing in common - I’m divorced - I have two sons married with children and we all love each other including daughters in law. So does that make my family dysfunctional? I think it’s a bit judgmental to describe a family that way.