Our Story
Built on experience.
Guided by principle.
From a single conversation in 2013 to a name trusted by households around the world – the people, the principles, and the judgement behind every introduction we make.
Our Founder
Meet Carrie-Ann
Duke & Duchess International was founded in 2013 by Carrie-Ann Pryke, with a clear and considered purpose: to bring structure, integrity, and genuine professionalism to the work of private staffing.
Discretion and judgement have shaped Carrie-Ann’s career from the start: first in child protection, then in education, before a move into international teaching and, finally, into private homes as a governess and private tutor to distinguished families.
Working inside these households, she saw what makes a placement succeed: not experience alone, but the professional whose character fits the rhythm of the family and household they serve.
That principle – character as much as capability – remains the foundation of everything we do.
Carrie-Ann PrykeA private residence is far more than a household. It is a collection of people, routines, and relationships working together in harmony.
The rhythm of a home
A private household has its own quiet rhythm. Each person within it shapes the feel of the whole and when something is out of step, it is felt everywhere, by everyone.
When the right professionals are placed with care, the rhythm holds. The household functions; the children settle; the family feels the ease of a home that runs well. That ease lasts far beyond any single placement.
It is this alignment, of values, of expectations, of expertise – that turns staffing from a practical necessity into something far more enduring: a stable foundation for a life well lived.
The Team
The Team
At the heart of Duke & Duchess International is a team whose experience mirrors that of its founder. Their backgrounds span education, childcare, and private service – and it is this first-hand understanding of life inside a household that allows them to recognise, instinctively, what each placement requires.
They are as integral to our work as the professionals we represent. United by trust, discretion, and standards they hold without exception, they are what allows us to put our name behind every introduction we make.
As private service expands across the world, we see our responsibility not only to meet the standards of this industry, but to help carry them forward – guiding the next generation of professionals with clarity, and holding the kind of standards made to last
Exceptional homes are built upon exceptional people – thoughtfully identified, carefully appointed, and uncompromisingly supported by the Duke & Duchess International team.
The Name
It represents a standard – not a status
A Duke or Duchess was not simply a title-holder, but a custodian of responsibility – someone trusted to manage estates, people, households, and legacies with discretion, judgement, and loyalty. Those values sit at the heart of what we do.
Duke & Duchess International was chosen not to sound grand, but because it represents a standard, not a status.
What our clients say
Continue Exploring
Where next
Services
The full breadth of household professionals we place – childcare, household, and family office.
Explore Services → For ClientsThe Approach
Our six-step placement journey – from initial consultation through to long-term support.
Discover Our Approach → For ProfessionalsThe Benchmark
The standards we set for the professionals we represent, and how we support them.
Read The Benchmark →Get in Touch
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Whether you’re looking to hire or you’re a professional seeking your next opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.