Royal Household of Nikolia
The Royal Household of Nikolia (Sirmian: Kraljevsko domaćinstvo; Mazurian: Królevskie gospodarstwo domowe) known simply as the Royal Household is an institution whose primary role is to support and assist the members of the Nikolian Royal Family in organisation and exercise of their royal duties and prerogatives.
The incumbent Nikolian monarch, King Aleksandar II, is head of the Royal Household. The Royal Household belongs to the governmental structure of Nikolia, as laid out in the Nikolian constitution, however, it is not under authority of the Federal Government; it is under direct authority of the Nikolian monarch.
Annual budget of the Royal Household of Nikolia is approved by the National Assembly as it receives funds from the state budget, as well as income that itself creates from land and object leasing, tourism and agricultural and other production. Annual budget is spent for maintenance and upkeep of royal residencies and palaces, parks and forests, stables, vehicles and services, as well as staff salaries. As of 2022, the annual budget was 450 million Kr (60 million USD).
Organisational structure
The Royal Household of Nikolia is principal institution tasked with supporting primarily the Nikolian King exercising his constitutional and royal duties and prerogatives, and, considering his role, has appropriately sized staff. Other members of the royal family are also supported by households, most notably the Crown Prince Konstantin.
King's Cabinet
The King's Cabinet assists the King in political, diplomatic, judicial and legislative matters of the realm and liaises between the monarch and federal or local governments, communities, foreign nations and the media.
- Chef de Cabinet keeps the King informed on daily economic, political and social developments in the country. He proposes, organises and prepares King's political audiences and liaises between the King and the Federal Government.
- Deputy Chef - Seal-bearer of the King examines all documents requiring royal assent and provides them to the monarch to sign. Deputy Chef also serves as a legal advisor to the King, providing assistance in all legal matters pertaining to the monarchy and nation.
- Deputy Chef - Diplomatic Advisor keeps the King informed on daily economic, political and social developments abroad. Diplomatic Advisor organises state visits abroad and prepares King's audiences of foreign dignitaries.
- Media and Communications Director monitors the Nikolian and international press and audio-visual media. The Director organises media presence at public involvements of the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family. The Director also maintains all official social media accounts of the Royal Family and its members, as well as maintain the websites.
Court Marshalate
The Court Marshalate assumes the role of general coordination of the Royal Household and the monarch in their daily activities in Nikolia and abroad pertaining to official protocol and logistics. The Court Marshalate provides service and maintenance staff to the Royal Household, takes care of the royal residencies, parks, vehicles and land and organises and coordinates activities in which members of the Royal Family take part, both in Nikolia and abroad through its subordinate offices.
- Court Marshal leads the Court Marshalate and is in essence an operational head of the Royal Household. He monitors and keeps the Monarch informed about the daily events in the Nikolian civil society, proposes and organises engagements of the Royal Family in societal front and coordinates Monarch's audiences with representatives from the civil society. As lead of the Court Marshalate, the Court Marshal maintains proper cooperation and coordination between the court departments, overlooks their daily operations and directs them. The Court Marshal is aided by two deputies.
- Court Quartermaster is responsible for maintenance and service staff, housekeeping, kitchen staff, gardeners and craftsmen and is head of the Royal Estates and Parks Office. This office maintains and provides service staff to all properties of the Royal Household, procures materials and goods needed for the everyday operation of the Royal Household and takes care of the art collection of the Royal Art Collection Fund.
- Royal Stables is the collection of equestrian stables and royal carriages which provide both ceremonial carriage transport and as well as more contemporary modes of road transport to the members of the Royal Household. Head of the Royal Stables is Crown Equerry who heads a team of horse grooms, drivers, mechanics and other supporting staff in maintaining and operating a vast collection of over 60 horse-drawn carriages, 40 horses and 30 vehicles.
- Royal Master of the Hunt assumes the position of the chief organiser of hunting activities of the members of the Royal Household. He is also responsible for maintaining and protection of fauna of the Royal forests and parks and its office holds considerable power over the entire hunting society in Nikolia.
