The Princess of Wales upholds a crucial rule that her staff must adhere to in order to safeguard her family.

In their capacity as active members of the royal family, Prince William and Kate rely on a dedicated team to ensure the efficient management of their household affairs. Naturally, when selecting staff, they maintain exceptionally high standards. And among the many requirements, there is one stringent rule that prospective employees must honour to earn the privilege of working at Kensington Palace.

A previous job listing on the official royal household website described a housekeeping position as an ‘exciting opportunity’ to serve the royal couple and become part of a ‘supportive and positive team’. However, in prioritising the family’s privacy, the advertisement emphasised a zero-tolerance policy for engaging in gossip, stressing the importance of “maintaining confidentiality and exercising discretion”.

The ad stated: “You will be a self-starter who also enjoys working collaboratively. You will be keen to take on new challenges as these arise and develop your own knowledge and skills.”

This requirement aligns with insider revelations regarding the rigorous selection process for cleaning positions within the royal household, including those under the late Queen. Tracey Waterman, the head of recruitment, disclosed a clandestine evaluation method employed during interviews to assess candidates’ attention to detail.

Waterman recounted the practice during Channel 5’s documentary Sandringham: The Royals at Christmas, revealing that applicants would be surreptitiously tested by placing a dead fly somewhere within the room. Observing how candidates reacted to the presence of the fly, including whether they noticed it and how they handled its disposal, served as a revealing indicator of their suitability for the role.

“The difference between a housekeeper in a five-star hotel and in a royal palace would be attention to detail,” Waterman explained. She highlighted the significance of subtle cues provided to candidates during the interview process, hoping they would discern the presence of the dead fly.

“It’s a great test, maybe out of 10 people half the candidates will notice the fly. One out of ten will actually bend down and pick it up, that’s the special housekeeper,” Waterman concluded, underscoring the importance of meticulousness and attentiveness in fulfilling royal household duties.