As mortgages remain assessed on the basis of affordability and suitability working for Her Majesty the Queen, tending to the beautiful gardens of Buckingham Palace unfortunately is unlikely to secure you very much home mortgage finance.
The post of gardener to the Royal Household has today been advertised on the Royal website. The grounds of the palace sprawl over 400 acres and applicants will need to be happy with the tasks and content to tidy up when the Gardens get used for the odd outdoor party or pop concert. The role appears quite exhausting and the start time is 7.30 am each morning. The pay – well that comes in an incredible £300 per week for 40 hours or £14,950 a year, sufficient to get a mortgage of £60-£75,000.
There are responsibilities with the role, and the job holder will be the boss of the compost heap or chief in charge of green waste recycling duties. You’ll also need to be qualified and be proficient in good horticultural practices.
The Palace has come in for some adverse comment regarding the pay package recently and given the early morning start, the need to be qualified and working in central London, many feel it is lowly paid. The fact is that the serving the Royal Household would look well on many CV’s and whilst it won’t provide sufficient income to purchase a house or flat within a significant radius around the Palace, it will be interesting to ascertain the number of Applicants who apply. If you were gardener, would you do it?
