Why Queen Elizabeth Was Left "Sitting in the Dark" After a Staff Member's Blunder
Former royal footman Steven Kaye shared a hilarious palace "accident."
Inside the walls of Windsor Castle, even the most dedicated royal staff occasionally face moments that test their nerves. Steven Kaye, who served as a footman to Queen Elizabeth II for more than three years, shared a snafu that shows just how gracefully Her Majesty handled the (very occasional) hiccups of palace life.
Like most of us who've hosted dinner parties, the late Queen sometimes faced unexpected challenges (though mine are perhaps not quite as grand as those at Windsor). During one memorable evening, what began as a typical formal dinner turned into a scramble when the castle's dining room lights began mysteriously flickering.
Ever practical, Queen Elizabeth suggested switching to candlelight for the evening meal. There was just one small problem: no one had remembered to set out the candles.
As Kaye told Slingo, "There was one occasion where the under-butler had forgotten to put candles out on the dining table...the Queen ordered that the lights be turned off and we'd just have candlelight—well, there were no candles."
"We were then running down to one of the pantries to find some candles and bring them up while The Queen was virtually sitting in the dark," Kaye recalled.
What makes this story particularly sweet is the Queen's understanding nature in such situations. As Kaye explained, "These sorts of things do happen quite a lot, with any job where there has to be perfection, there's always going to be a lot of mistakes. But, as long as you correct those mistakes quickly, I don't think The Queen really minds."
The former royal footman—who made the remarks shortly before the monarch's death—added, "She doesn't like sloppiness, so given that it's an accident and not deliberate, she's usually okay."
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
In fact, Queen Elizabeth was known to actually enjoy it when something went awry. Samantha Cohen, who worked for The Queen for close to 20 years, told Australia's Herald Sun (via Vanity Fair), “She was so comfortable in herself, yet she loved it when things went wrong—if a cake was not cutting or a plaque didn’t unveil—because everything was so perfectly organized, it spiced her life up when things went wrong.”
Somehow I have a feeling that The Queen was probably delighted to be left sitting in the dark (or at least moderately amused).
Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.
Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central.
Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.”
-
Keke Palmer Says “Walking Away Is the Only Way” After Opening up About “Unhealthy” Relationship
"It was the hardest thing I ever had to go through," the star wrote in her new book.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Adele's Custom Gown Is a "Bridge Between Worlds"—and a Milestone First
Gaurav Gupta exclusively takes 'Marie Claire' inside its making.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
It Seems Like We Could Return to the Pods Soon—Here's What We Know About 'Love Is Blind' Season 8
Some fans even think they've figured out where Netflix is looking for its next set of romantic hopefuls.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Queen Elizabeth's Beloved Corgis Once Unleashed Terror on Prince Andrew's Home
"One minute cuddly, the next psycho."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Elizabeth's Former Press Secretary Is Comparing the Royal to Taylor Swift
It turns out the duo had one major thing in common.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why Queen Elizabeth Ended up on a "Water Shoot Slide" in an “Evening Dress and Tiara"
In an exclusive interview with 'Marie Claire,' a former royal butler explains why The Queen "thought it was hilarious because things like that don't happen."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
The Tragic Event That Once Made Queen Elizabeth Cry in Public
Oct. 21 marks 58 years since the disaster.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Queen Elizabeth Had Only One Sure-Fire Way to Get Her Corgis to "Shut Up"
It was totally on-brand.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
The Rare Moments When Queen Elizabeth Allowed Herself to Be “A Normal Woman in the Countryside”
A Land Rover expert tells 'Marie Claire' of a time when the late monarch "just looked completely at home."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Queen Elizabeth's Rare Childhood Tantrum is Truly Epic
Every once in a while, Elizabeth let loose.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
'The Great British Bake Off' Star Prue Leith Once Messed Up Queen Elizabeth's Tea Order
"You'd think it was a state secret!"
By Kristin Contino Published