There are many weird and wonderful jobs on offer at the palace, but perhaps one of the most unknown involves the queen’s shoes.
It is a job that comes with the highest level of respect as it allows you to work closely with the monarch. This unique position requires you to be the same size foot as the queen you will be wearing in her new shoes so they will be comfortable for her during her many engagements.
One of the more bizarre roles of a footman or group of footmen in the Palace is to take care of the daily upkeep of the Queen’s shoes. They are said to be responsible for seizing the monarch’s shoes once they have been worn, reports My London.
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A designated footman is then said to air the shoes on a shoe tree, before polishing them and storing them individually in silk or cotton drawstring bags.
The fact that the Queen’s shoes have their own staff isn’t the most unusual story about them. The Queen has been confirmed to have a staff member to wear in her shoes for her so they won’t be uncomfortable when she has to stand for long periods of time.
Angela Kelly, the Queen’s trusted dresser and close friend revealed the story in her 2019 book: ‘The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe’.
In an interview with People, Ms Kelly wrote: “As has been widely reported in the press, a lackey wears Her Majesty’s shoes to ensure they are comfortable and that she is always ready to go, and yes, I am that minion.”
She continued: “The Queen has very little time for herself and no time to wear her own shoes, and since we share the same shoe size it makes more sense that way.”
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The Queen has worn the same style of shoes for 50 years and they are handmade by London-based company Anello & Davide. While the company is said to have supplied hundreds of pairs to the Queen over the years, it is believed to have 10 pairs in rotation at a time.
One of the Queen’s shoemakers once said: “We supply one or two pairs a year and occasionally change the tops and heels. The queen does not waste money.
Her Majesty’s shoes are made from calf leather and molded from a wooden cast of the Queen’s foot. Once a shoe is made, it is taken for final fitting and all adjustments are made.
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