THE MASTER OF THE HOUSEHOLD'S DEPARTMENT

The Master of the Household's Department is the largest in the Royal Household, with a staff of over 250.

The department covers a huge range of skills and professions - chefs, sommeliers, events planners, specialist furniture craftsmen, pages and footmen, and housekeepers.

The Master of the Household's Department is responsible for arranging hospitality for all guests visiting the Royal residences, as well as for members of the Royal Family.

The Master of the Household deals with all domestic arrangements, catering and official entertaining at Buckingham Palace and other Royal residences.

The position of Master of the Household was first created in the Household reforms of 1539. Originally there were four Masters. By the late seventeenth century this number had been reduced to one.

The post became a sinecure until, under Prince Albert's reorganisation of the Household in the 1840s, the Master was put in charge of the entire domestic establishment.

Nowadays the Master makes full use of computerised catering administration and other measures to maintain cost efficiency.

Whether the event is a reception for 700, a State Banquet for 170 or an informal lunch for 12, the Master supervises all catering arrangements, from the guest lists and seating plans to the preparation and service of the meal on the day.

In addition to the Royal kitchens, the department is responsible for housekeeping and general domestic matters as well as travel and luggage arrangements for The Queen's journeys.

The Master is also responsible for the Court Post Office, which processes the thousands of letters sent out on official business from Buckingham Palace and the other Royal residences when The Queen is in residence.