Announcements

Housekeepers Meet The Queen

[Monday 02 June 2008]

      

                      

Housekeepers meet The Queen at Buckingham Palace

In January 2008 Ian Hughes, National chairman of the UK Housekeepers Association received a telephone call from the Private Secretaries Office at Buckingham Palace asking for three nominations from housekeeping to be invited to a special event marking the contribution of Hospitality to the British economy. This event would be hosted by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. at the Palace on the 6th May.                                                                                                               

 Ian Hughes had just 2 days to get the information together and submit and as this was at the Palace there was to be no disclosure that this event was happening to anyone. Hughes said “I decided to exclude myself to ensure it was a fair sample of people I then chose people from across the country and range of job roles”

The three chosen were Lynn Yambao, National Secretary of the UKHA for the 23 years of service to the association and being a founder member,. Lynn also represented the south of the country, Jean Roberts as a Head Housekeeper who represented the north of England and Barbara a retired room attendant with 40 years of service representing Scotland. At the time of nominating a biography had to be submitted of each person so that Her Majesty could get to know who would be there and have knowledge of them.

On the 6th May Lynn, Jean and Barbara met for afternoon tea before making their way, with special car passes giving access to the Palace grounds via the front gates! Unfortunately for security they were not permitted to take in cameras so we are not able to provide photographs. There were over 360 people in the palace that evening from famous chefs such as Gordon Ramsey to the hard working individuals at all levels of the industry. Minjoo Leutwiler-Lee Housekeeper of the year was also invited and met with the three in the courtyard before making their way into the state rooms of the palace. They were greeted by the Royal Household staff and HRH Prince Philip Lynn commented “He was so friendly and inviting, he showed great interest in asking what the UHKA was about. After leaving the Prince ” Jean said “we were presented with books giving us information of the staterooms we were in and also who was attending the event they are a lovely keepsake”. The Household staff were very informative and polite and the canapés both savoury and sweet were “to die for” said Lynn.     

Unbeknown to the invitees the four ladies were then called to be presented to Her Majesty officially which was a great honour. The Queen made them feel very comfortable and special and spoke at length with them “The Queen asked about where I had worked” said Barbara “when I told her that I was at the Dunblane Hydro hotel The Queen said I believe my Daughter had visited there some twenty years ago to which I replied that is right your Majesty the Princess Royal did visit us in the 1980’s”

After meeting the Queen they ladies literally bumped into Prince Edward who was also speaking to people. Later Prince Philip came to Lynn to ask “is our Housekeeper a member  to which Lynn informed him that she use to be. Jean Said “ it was amazing that he asked us this.

Of course the facilities were tested and the standards checked and there were absolutely no housekeeping issues seen at all, obviously all fit for a Queen!

Upon leaving the palace Minjoo spotted her husband who was outside the gates waiting for her “I felt so special that I had been to the Palace and met the Royal Family and for me to be waving to my husband with everyone looking at us well what can I say” Lynn asked Minjoo if she could “wave to him too just to finish the event off nicely”

Hughes said “it is an honour for me to have been asked for nominees and also that Housekeepers received the recognition that is so rightly ours!”

Ian Hughes

National Chairman

30 May 2008