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Royal butler demoted for watching porn
Ellen Widdup05.05.09
One of the Queen's butlers has been demoted after he was caught watching gay porn on a laptop.
Robert Wilson, who had almost daily contact with the royal family at Sandringham, was spotted using the computer by a footman shortly after serving the Queen and Prince Philip their afternoon tea.
After an investigation he was stripped of his grace-and-favour apartment and demoted to dining room assistant serving meals to cleaning staff and kitchen porters.
Reader views (11)
I'm not sure this is an anti gay story or not.
If you're watching porn (of any persuasion) on company time that's extremely unprofessional and you shouldn't be surprised if you're disciplined.
If, on the other hand, this guy was on his own time and computing equipment then there should have been no case to answer on his part.
Do we know if he was doing this on works time or not?
- Bearpup, Scunthorpe, UK
What clearly is the issue here? That he was watch a movie on the clock or that he was watching porn? Or that it was gay porn? One would think that butlers are on the clock for long periods of time, so one catches a free personal moment when one can. This sounds to be a conflict among staff.
- Dan Glenn, Palm Springs, CA
Bit hard on him realy!
- Kev, London-UK
Content doesn't matter. If he was on the job he had no business watching movies on his computer.
- Trunk, US
If they sacked every butler at Buckingham Palace who watched gay porn, the poor old Queen will have to cook and clean for herself!
- S.R., London UK
He could get a job as Jacqui Smith's housekeeper - £40,000 p.a. and pornographic films at tax payers' expense. Judging by what it has cost us tax payers to furnish the house in Redditch it should be as comfortable as Sandringham.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
What an idiot! He should have been fired and ran off the property.
- Rick Huffman, Saint Joseph, Michigan
Now that is what I would call surf riding!
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
Archaeic! Why do cleaning staff and porters need to be served their meals? Why not use a canteen like the rest of the working world? It's high time the Queen and Prince Charles looked to reduce costs and the drain on the taxpayer themselves.
- Mark, London
He should be promoted to an MP.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Sorry Micky, but that privilege is only afforded to those caught watching heterosexual porn!
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London
He should be promoted to an MP.
- Mickyinlondon, london
