Get our daily royal round-up direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The Queen is looking for staff to work at Windsor Castle for £1 below the living wage.

Two permanent jobs advertised on the official British Monarchy website pay a salary of £6,916 for 20 hours work per week – just £6.65 per hour.

This is £1 below the recommended living wage of £7.65 an hour outside London and only 15p above the national minimum wage of £6.50 for people of 21 and over.

The jobs, a sales assistant and coffee shop assistant in the Windsor Farm Shop, require previous experience and involve some weekend work.

(Image: Getty)

“Enthusiastic” candidates are expected to provide “an outstanding level of customer service”.

The royal household often advertises jobs with low salaries, but with benefits including accommodation.

These jobs, however, have no accommodation.

Low-paid positions at Windsor Castle

In November, 2012 the Mirror told how the Queen advertised for a Windsor Castle cleaner at 78p below the living wage.

At that time a Buckingham Palace spokesman said they were reviewing their policies regarding the living wage.

Grahame Morris, Labour MP for Easington, County Durham, who has campaigned for the implementation of the living wage, said: “This looks really bad. It is setting a bad example to other employers.

“Since the Queen receives considerable support from the public purse, the royal household should set a good example and show they value their staff by paying a living wage, not just barely a minimum wage.”

The Queen will be given £37.9million from the public purse for the financial year ending April 2015 to carry out her official duties.

She will also receive the £13.6million net profits of the Duchy of Lancaster to use for private and official expenditure.

Queen's income £37.9m Public funds £13.6m Duchy of Lancaster net profits For financial year ending April 2015

The living wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually, calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.

Employers pay it voluntarily and many top politicians from both major parties have spoken out about the importance of paying the rate.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the jobs came with a free lunch every day as well as a “generous” 15% non-contributing pension plan.