The Royal Household is divided into five departments, under the overall authority of the Lord Chamberlain, the senior member of The Queen’s Household.

The departments are the Private Secretary’s Office, the Master of the Household’s Department, the Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office, the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, and the Royal Collection Department.

These functions originated in the Royal Court, developing in form over the centuries. For this reason, the departments and many jobs have ancient and sometimes quirky titles, although the jobs themselves require contemporary professional skills.

Most of the departments are based in Buckingham Palace, although there are also offices in St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Mews.

Members of the Royal Household also travel with The Queen on overseas visits and during The Queen’s stays at Balmoral Castle and Sandringham, since the work of the Head of State continues even when she is away from London.