What's retaining like?
Well. It's a little bit like being David Attenborough in a nature documentary where you're the observer following along as a Royal goes about their regular duties and responsibilities.
Aside from that, a lot of what it's like depends entirely on the Crown/Coronet you are retaining for.
If they are a social butterfly, then you are going to be doing a lot of walking. You get to meet all sorts of people and see inside personal spaces you wouldn't normally have access to. You'll probably have to carry a parasol or mug, and do some writing down of meetings or notes they want to remember. You'll also be reminding them of where they need to be when.
If the Crown/Coronet is a sit and stay sort of person, then you will be doing a fair bit of standing and writing down things that are being gifted so that a proper thank you can be sent. Maybe a little bit of getting them out of a conversation that has run too long. If there happens to be a pop-up court, you get a front row seat to a lot of neat stuff.
It's a cross between a babysitter, a gopher, and personal secretary in the end, and it is a much appreciated and needed job. Not just to preserve the pageantry, but to also preserve the Crown/Coronet's sanity.
