<![CDATA[First appointed by Queen Anne in the 1700s, The
Pages of the Backstairs were created as she wanted to distinguish
between the Ladies of the Bedchamber and her closest male
servant.
The Pages were thought highly of and were not considered in the
same category of the other domestic staff. In fact they were paid
what was a a hefty amount back then, an estimated £100.
The Queen employs four Pages of the Backstairs. They are a senior
servant of the Royal Household, attending to The Queen and The Duke
of Edinburgh.
The office of the Page’s is located next to Her Majesty’s lift,
which is at the entrance to the private apartments. A Page is with
her at all times. On the rare occasion when a Page is out, a deputy
will take his place.
The Pages serve the drinks and meals; deal with domestic
arrangements, deliver the red boxes and even the Queen’s beloved
corgis are under their charge.
They are also the only individuals who grant access to members of
the Household into Her Majesty and Prince Philip’s private
rooms.
The control of access dates back to the Stuart era when the Pages
positioned themselves, literally at the bottom off the ‘backstairs'
or Privy Stairs, which led to the Sovereigns private
apartments.
One of the Pages still working at Buckingham Palace is Paul
Whybrew. Whybrew is considered to be The Queen's favourite Page. In
1982, he spoke to intruder Michael Fagan. Fagan as one may recall,
was the man who broke into Buckingham Palace and spent ten minutes
talking to the Queen in her bedroom.
He was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms to the Queen in 2008. During the
Diamond Jubilee Honours, Whybrew already a Member of the Royal
Victorian Order was awarded Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian
Order.
One may have seen Whybrew as he was included in the video opening
for the 2012 London Olympics with Her Majesty and James Bond as
played by Daniel Craig.
Featured photo credit: Brian Harrington
Spier via photopin cc]]>
