A ROYAL housekeeper from Stroud has been awarded the Royal Victoria Medal in the Queen's New Year Honours.

Sandra Marshall, 72, who lives in Paganhill, has managed the domestic affairs at Princess Anne's home at Gatcombe Park for 19 years.

She has also travelled with the princess to all the royal palaces apart from Balmoral, and has worked for the princess' daughter, Zara Tindall too.

Mrs Marshall said the award was a total surprise.

"The princess presented me with the letter from the palace one morning last month when I arrived for work," she said.

"I thought it might have been about retiring, or something like that. So it came as a complete shock.

"I didn't know what to say, I was dumb struck.

"Then I said 'I don't deserve this'.

"And she said 'you definitely do'."

Mrs Marshall added: "She's lovely. She's very fair and a good person to work for."

She will be presented with the award at an event at Buckingham Palace.