Wanted: Queen's Maid, Pay £14,000-A-Year

A maid who will run baths and make beds at Buckingham Palace and help the Queen's guests get dressed will be paid just £273 a week.

The palace is advertising for a housekeeping assistant, who will work 40 hours a week and be responsible for keeping the London landmark spotlessly clean.

The £14,200-a-year job involves tidying the Royal Family's private suites, as well as the state apartments, corridors and staircases.

Dusting and polishing a huge collection of antiques and ornaments is another daily chore.

Buckingham Palace says the successful candidate must be friendly, polite and meticulous - and be able to turn up to work on time.

In return, they will be given accommodation and food, "for which there will be a salary adjustment", according to the advertisement .

Anyone interested in the job will need to apply quickly - the deadline for applications, which can be made through The British Monarchy website , is this Friday.

Other vacancies at the palace , which employs around 1,200 people, include a gardener, an events co-ordinator and a security liaison administrator.

Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of Britain's kings and queens for 175 years.

It has 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 19 state rooms and 78 bathrooms.

More than 50,000 people visit the palace each year - many of them to attend banquets, receptions and garden parties.