Prince William has hired a new full-time servant for the first time who will serve as a valet, a royal source has claimed.
The heir to throne has reportedly been concerned about hiring personal royal staff in the past over the belief that it is not always necessary.
William and Princess Kate are also notoriously protective over their privacy, and they have fears over any staff members getting too close to their business.
However due to the added workload resulting from King Charles’s cancer diagnosis and Kate’s abdominal surgery, meaning they are both taking time off, has forced William to reconsider.
Some former royal aides such as Paul Burrell, who worked as a butler for the late Princess Diana, have courted media attention after leaving their position, something the Prince is keen to avoid.
The role of a valet is to help the men they serve with dressing, washing and shaving, as well as looking after their clothing and footwear and ensuring they are clean and well-kept.
In this case William’s valet will “help dress him and lay out his clothes”, the source says, although he apparently likes to seek style advice from Kate.
The new valet is in his mid-20s, and has worked for the Royal Family before for the late Queen Elizabeth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
William’s new member of staff also spent time working as the butler to a sheikh in the Middle East before returning to work in the UK, and will also accompany the Prince in trips abroad.
A source told the Mail: “After years of resisting, William has taken on his very own Jeeves. William used to dress himself and do everything else himself too.
“He got forced into hiring a valet to help dress him and lay out his clothes, which he’s never had. Occasionally, if he went to an official event, he’d probably borrow a valet, but on the whole he’s always thought it is pretentious and a bit much.”
Another source explained: “While they’re in Adelaide Cottage, William and Kate just don’t like lots of staff – and there’s no room to stay anyway. But William has realised there are a lot of uniforms, a lot of other things to do, so life is more complicated than before.
“He was resisting having a valet to protect his privacy and he always said he is a man of his generation and can put on his own pants. Then he realised, particularly with becoming Prince of Wales, that it’s a lot more work.”
Fortunately for Kate and William their new valet is keen to remain discreet and protect his anonymity, so is unlikely to speak to the press.
