A major staffing crisis is unfolding at King Charles's beloved Balmoral estate after the Home Office refused a visa application for a long-serving housekeeper from California, The Independent can reveal.
The decision has thrown the royal couple's summer plans into disarray and sparked a furious internal row. The housekeeper, who has worked for the King for years and is a trusted member of the private staff, was due to take up a key role at the Aberdeenshire castle this summer.
Despite having previously worked in the UK for the monarch, her application under the points-based immigration system was rejected. Officials reportedly deemed her role, which is crucial to the smooth running of the 50,000-acre estate, as not sufficiently skilled to qualify for a visa.
This shocking refusal has left royal aides scrambling and has forced a senior official within the King's household to personally appeal to the Home Office. The case highlights the stark difficulties even the Royal Family faces under Britain's stringent post-Brexit immigration rules.
Balmoral Castle is not just a holiday home; it is a fully operational royal residence and a working estate requiring a large, specialised staff, particularly during the summer months when the King and Queen traditionally reside there. The rejection threatens to disrupt the royal routine and the meticulous management of the property.
A source told The Independent: "This is a complete nightmare. She is a valued and experienced member of the team. The idea that the King's own household cannot get a visa for a essential staff member is absurd and incredibly frustrating."
The Home Office has maintained its standard position, stating that all applications are "carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules." However, this incident raises serious questions about the inflexibility of the system and its impact on essential workers, even those serving at the highest level.
