Shivani’s Experience

I heard about the summer roles at Buckingham Palace through my friend who loved the experience last year, so I was really pleased when I got the job.

As a Warden in the Access Team, I welcome visitors and help them throughout their tour with any assistance they may need. There’s an amazing Access route available when visiting the State Rooms which starts at the front gates of Buckingham Palace. I loved greeting guests at the gates, it was extremely exciting and something I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do.

I would say that the biggest challenge in the role is keeping up with all the visitors! The summer opening is so popular with some days feeling a bit hectic, but we worked together as team to ensure things went smoothly and all the visitors had a memorable experience.

My favourite part of the role was meeting so many new people! Visitors travel from all over the world to step inside the Palace and so I really enjoyed making new connections, this really helped grow my confidence and communication skills.

There’s a real community feel in the Warden team, everyone is so kind and inclusive. My team was diverse in backgrounds, experiences and ages so everyone brought something different to the role. I loved making new friends.

This summer has been a summer to remember, I would highly recommend anyone applying.

Abigail’s experience

When I saw the role of Summer Warden advertised, I was really excited by the unique opportunity. I carefully completed the online application form and I was fortunate to be invited to the group interview where I had a one-to-one conversation and took part in group activities. I felt supported throughout the process and was thrilled to receive my job offer.

As a Summer Warden there’s a variety of zones to cover and I was assigned to Security. Like all Wardens, we also get the opportunity to work in the State Rooms a couple of times a week. My role is centred on protecting the Palace which can mean anything from observing items coming through the scanning system, checking bags, or monitoring visitor flow. Each day begins with a morning briefing, providing a great opportunity to come together as a team before the day begins, ensuring we’re ready to greet all the excited visitors itching to set foot in the Palace.

Whilst working in Security I’ve been warmed by the smiles of young children who are eager to walk through the gates of Buckingham Palace and I’ve been enamoured by the journeys of those who have travelled miles to see the grandeur of the State Rooms.

This role has evoked some real ‘pinch me’ moments. Whilst in the Picture Gallery, I often found myself standing between masterpieces. As someone who loves history, having the opportunity to be amongst such great works of art has been nothing short of exceptional. Talking to visitors about the objects Buckingham Palace has on display has made me very proud to be a part of the organisation, even for a short period of time.

If I can offer any advice to someone thinking about applying next year it would be, do it; you won’t regret it! The role is fast paced, and the daily hustle and bustle means that you really bond with your team and never have a dull moment. I can only describe it to you as a bit of a whirlwind, but it’ll be brilliant!

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