British Queen's Indian footman may lose job

London, July 30: The Indian footman at Buckingham Palace who helped announce the birth of new British heir - Prince George - is waiting to learn if his visa to continue to live and work in the UK will be renewed at the end of October.

Badar Azim, a 25-year-old hospitality management graduate who grew up in a Kolkata slum, was seen by millions posting the news of Prince William and Kate Middleton's baby boy last week on the official easel at the palace forecourt.

However, according to media reports here, he may no longer have a job as Queen Elizabeth II's footman once his visa expires in October. Buckingham Palace did not comment on the matter, while the UK Home Office simply said: "Each application is looked at and judged on its own merits."

Azim graduated from Napier University, Edinburgh, in June 2011 with the help of financial help from St Mary's Orphanage and Day school in Kolkata, where he studied as a young boy. He landed a job as junior footman at the palace in February 2012 and just happened to be on duty on the day Britain's newest prince was born.

He was photographed alongside Ailsa Anderson, the Queen's press secretary, on July 22 as he put the royal notice up to break the news of the royal baby to the world.

PTI