Not in Front of the Corgis: Secrets of Life Behind the Royal Curtains

Not in Front of the Corgis offers an inside view of the British royal household's daily operations and protocols through interviews with current and former staff members. The book details the complex hierarchy, traditions, and requirements for those who serve the royal family. The text covers practical aspects of royal life, from meal preparation and wardrobe management to security measures and staff training. Royal servants share their direct experiences and observations about working in the palaces, providing context about the monarchy's private routines. Author Brian Hoey, who has covered the royal family for decades, presents stories that reveal the intersection of centuries-old ceremony with modern practicality in royal households. The book's exploration of relationships between staff and royalty raises questions about class, tradition, and the evolution of the British monarchy in contemporary times.

Readers found this book provides surface-level glimpses into royal household operations and staff protocols. Most describe it as a quick, light read that focuses more on domestic staff duties than deep royal revelations. Liked: - Details about staff hierarchy and traditions - Behind-the-scenes household operations - Proper addressing protocols and etiquette rules - Anecdotes about royal pets and daily routines Disliked: - Repetitive content from author's previous books - Lack of new or meaningful insights - Too much focus on mundane details - "Reads like a staff manual" according to multiple reviewers - Several noted factual errors about royal residences Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (724 ratings) Amazon UK: 3.7/5 (163 ratings) Amazon US: 3.5/5 (89 ratings) One recurring comment across platforms: "The title is misleading - very little content about corgis despite the cover promise."

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🔹 The book reveals that Queen Elizabeth II's corgis were fed fresh rabbit and beef prepared by a chef, served in strict order of seniority based on each dog's age. 🔹 Author Brian Hoey has written more than 25 books about the British Royal Family and had unprecedented access to royal staff members for his research. 🔹 Palace servants must run a bath for royal family members with the water temperature precisely at 72 degrees Fahrenheit, tested with a wooden-cased thermometer. 🔹 New royal staff members are given a briefing book called "The Book" containing detailed protocols, including never turning their back on the monarch and which rooms they're forbidden to enter. 🔹 The Queen's wardrobe was entered in a computer inventory system, with each outfit coded by name, date, and occasion worn to ensure she never appeared in the same ensemble too frequently at public events.