Up to 100 members of staff under King Charles have reportedly been served with redundancy notices. The employees found out their jobs were at risk during the service for the Queen at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh earlier today (Monday).
Workers at Clarence House, King Charles' former official residence, have been informed that the offices of the King and the Queen Consort are to move to Buckingham Palace, reports The Guardian.
Among those departments where notices were sent are private secretaries, finance office, communications team and household staff. The letter, as seen by the Guardian, came from Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s top aide.
It said: “The change in role for our principals will also mean change for our household … The portfolio of work previously undertaken in this household supporting the former Prince of Wales’s personal interests, former activities and household operations will no longer be carried out, and the household … at Clarence House will be closed down. It is therefore expected that the need for the posts principally based at Clarence House, whose work supports these areas will no longer be needed.”
The King’s private secretary added: “I appreciate that this is unsettling news and I wanted to let you know of the support that is available at this point.”
Those employees who have previously given “direct, close, personal support and advice” to the King and Queen Consort are not at risk. A consultation period on the redundancies to be made is to start after the state funeral on Monday (September 19).
One source told the Guardian: “Everybody is absolutely livid, including private secretaries and the senior team. All the staff have been working late every night since Thursday, to be met with this. People were visibly shaken by it.”
Anyone who is made redundant is to be supported in a search for alternative employment across all royal households, assistance in finding new jobs externally and an “enhanced” redundancy payment beyond the statutory minimum.
A Clarence House spokesman said: “Following last week’s accession, the operations of the household of the former Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have ceased and, as required by law, a consultation process has begun. Our staff have given long and loyal service and, while some redundancies will be unavoidable, we are working urgently to identify alternative roles for the greatest number of staff.”
Clarence House revealed in this year's annual review that the full-time equivalent of 101 staff were employed there.
