<![CDATA[The Page of the Presence are three pages who are
senior staff of the Master of the Household Department. Their role
is as personal attendants to royal visitors.
Other duties include looking after Buckingham Palace’s Grand
entrance, where they supervise the arrivals and departures of
various individuals such as ambassadors and others that Her Majesty
may receive.
The Pages are responsible for the Privy Purse Door where the
infamous Red Boxes arrive daily as well as people who have business
with members of the Royal Household.
The Pages also oversee the visitor’s book and those who sign it.
They are responsible for meal service to the Royal Household and
when The Britannia was still in commission, the Pages were in
charge of meal service in the ship’s dining room.
The Pages of the Presence are usually promoted from the rank of
footman.
The title is an early reference to the Presence Chamber. The
Chamber was a room in the Royal Apartments where the King dined in
State. It was also here the King received visitors and held Council
meetings.
Initially there were four Pages who attended in pairs. Their duties
included watching, cleaning and tending to the fires in the
Presence Chamber.
During Queen Victoria’s reign, two additional Pages were added.
There were three first class and three-second class Pages. It was
their duty to attend to the Queen’s guests, light fires and arrange
seating.
Three of the Pages also attended when Her Majesty held Council.
Back then the Pages were under the Order of the Groom of the
Chamber. Presently, the Pages of the Presence are under the Page of
the Chamber.
As of 2010, there are three Pages of the Presence.
Featured photo credit: Edwin.11 via photopin cc]]>
