In February, 1981, on his 18th birthday, Chris Ely started his first job out of school: serving as a footman to Queen Elizabeth II.

Over the next three years, Chris catered state dinners at Buckingham Palace, learned the intricacies of each of the Queen’s homes, traveled on the royal yacht, and had a front-row seat to history (sometimes, with a view from the Queen’s carriages).

Today, as the world mourns the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, Chris shares what it was like to serve at Buckingham Palace, what he learned from watching the Queen, and how his time there affected the rest of his 40 year career in private service.

Thank you to Chris for sharing his stories with us!

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The Easemakers Podcast is presented by Nines, household management software and services built for discerning households and the private service professionals who support them.