Deep in the bowels of Buckingham Palace the British Queen employs a junior member of staff who has been dubbed ‘Cinders’.
It’s a strange nickname but then again ‘Cinders’ has a strange job to do. ‘Cinders’ has a role with a lot of ‘sole’ when it comes to supporting the UK’s monarch , because ‘Cinders’ has the important task of wearing in her Majesty’s shoes.
Now being a ‘foot-maiden’ may sound like a pretty uncomplicated way to earn your crust, but there’s a little more to it when you belong to the Queen’s loyal stable of shoe testers.
And one most definitely wouldn’t want to put their foot in it when working in such a prestigious position.
You see the Queen is pretty peculiar when she comes to her shoes. Fashion is definitely not one of her Majesty’s passions and she firmly believes in function first.
In fact, for the last 50 years of her reign, the Queen has rocked the same trusty patent leather slip-on shoes that have almost become her trademark.
In the same way you think of cigars when you think of that other great British institution, Winston Churchill, when you think of the Queen, you think of sensible footwear that does what it said on the tin.
From prison visits to the Diamond Jubilee pageant , the Queen has rocked the same sort of timeless patent leather shoes that are tailor-made to never steal a show or detract any attention from the monarch herself.
Handmade by Anello & Davide of Kensington, west London, it takes a team of four to produce these unsung heroes of the Royal household.
These bad boys retail at £1,000 a pair, and their comfort, support, and simplicity of design entail they are a hard and fast favourite when it comes to the Queen’s royal duties.
Yet any shoe, always takes a certain amount of wearing in and that’s ‘Cinders’ comes in.
She may not be going to the ball or getting married to Prince Charming anytime soon, but ‘Cinders’ will always be at hand, or should that be foot? to ensure the Queen’s feet are kept footloose and fancy free of blisters.
The Queen’s dress designer Stewart Parvin told the Daily Mail: “The Queen can never say, ‘I’m uncomfortable, I can’t walk any more.’”
Apparently ‘Cinders’ has the exact same size feet as the Queen. When testing the Queen’s shoes, ‘Cinders’ wears beige cotton socks, and is only allowed to walk on carpets.
Before the shoes are handed over to the Queen, they are given one trial run outside to ensure there is no slippage
Sounds like a walk in the park.