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Always tucked behind or beside Queen Elizabeth was an unwavering support system made up of a team of dedicated women, hand-picked by the monarch herself.
Each carried the title of lady-in-waiting and took responsibility for a variety of roles – from picking outfits and helping her bathe and dress, to responding to letters or accompanying her on outings.
But behind their unique title and chores, these women also performed two other vital roles to our esteemed monarch: friend and confidante.
The role of lady-in-waiting is one historically steeped in honour.
During the Elizabethan era, between 1558 and 1603, wealthy nobles pined for their daughters to be appointed as a lady-in-waiting for their Queen. It was one of the ultimate privileges to have a position in court life, constantly surrounded by royalty, music, literature, dancing, and prestigious events.
Although centuries have passed, the role of lady-in-waiting continues to be a highly esteemed and respected position in certain circles.
Many begin life born into wealthy, noble families – an important fact, considering they are not paid for their duties to the monarch (but can claim expenses in some circumstances).
And it’s not a role you can choose to leave or even retire from. Once chosen, a lady-in-waiting is expected to serve the Queen for life.
The Mistress of Robes, at top of the hierarchy of ladies-in-waiting, manages the Queen’s wardrobe and assigns the schedules of other ladies-in-waiting. It is up to her to carefully select the Queen’s stand-out, brightly coloured jackets, suits, hats, and scarves – a role which was of paramount importance to the Queen, who once joked with a commander standing in front of her during a state visit, blocking her view of the crowd: ‘Actually, Captain, I think it’s me they’ve come to see.’
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, it’s the Women of the Bedchamber who assist the Queen with the very personal tasks of dressing and bathing.
However, most significant of all the duties is companionship to the Queen – and the reason many ladies-in-waiting are chosen is due to their close friendship or familial ties to the monarch.
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It’s in this role where their value truly lies, as their discretion and observational skills are key. Often when the Queen is in company, they will wait for gestures that communicate her thoughts. It’s believed that if the Queen shifted her bag to the ground or twisted the wedding ring on her finger, it was an indication to her lady-in-waiting that she wasn’t having fun in a conversation and wanted to be rescued from the chatter.
During a 1960s Royal Variety Performance by the Everly Brothers, the Queen was said to have whispered to one of her ladies that their rendition of hit song Cathy’s Clown was like hearing ‘two cats being strangled!’
Another tale from the ‘40s was told from then lady-in-waiting Henriette Abel Smith. She told of lots of parties in Malta, when Princess Elizabeth was enjoying a spell as an ordinary naval officer’s wife. Spoons and buns would fly through the air, she claimed, and if it got really hazardous, Prince Philip would sit both ladies on the piano to keep them out of danger.
The two most recent appointments to be hired by the Monarch were Lady Elizabeth Leeming, the Queen’s cousin once removed, and Susan Rhodes, daughter-in-law of the Queen’s best friend and cousin, who both took on the role in 2017.
However, as the pandemic took hold in 2020 and the UK was plunged into lockdown, it was Susan who was chosen to isolate with the Queen and was seen with her on the balcony of the Foreign Office at the Cenotaph during last year’s Remembrance Sunday.
Age is but a number when it comes to the role of lady-in-waiting, it would seem. First appointed in 1953, Ann Fortune FitzRoy, the Duchess of Grafton, was the oldest of the group, who sadly passed away in December 2021 at the grand age of 101. She first served the Queen as Lady of the Bedchamber until 1967, when she then went on to become Mistress of the Robes.
Sadly, less than a month later, Her Royal Highness lost the ‘good humoured’, ‘glamorous and attractive’ Lady Farnham, aged 90, her appointed Lady of the Bedchamber since 1987. The longstanding lady-in-waiting rode alongside the Queen as they made their way to the Diamond Jubilee service in 2012, to replace the Duke of Edinburgh, who was in hospital at the time.
A royal source told the Telegraph: ‘They were dear friends who supported the Queen on official duties. Unfortunately a sad consequence of living a long life is that you have to say goodbye to a lot of people you care about.’
Meanwhile, the Honourable Dame Mary Morrison, aged 84, has served the Queen for over 60 years. When Mary suffered a fall down a flight of stairs at Balmoral in 2018, she reportedly insisted on returning with crutches and a broken ankle to the castle soon after the accident.
However, perhaps the most famous lady-in-waiting to the Queen is Lady Susan Hussey, who became a friend and companion to the Queen in 1960, after being appointed as the Woman of the Bedchamber.
Although her role was initially to respond to letters following the birth of Prince Andrew, she was soon to become invaluable.
Affectionately referred to as the ‘Number One Head Girl’ in the Queen’s office, it was Lady Susan, now 83, who was trusted with recommending Tiggy Legge-Bourke as nanny to future king Prince William and his brother Harry, and is also one of the godmothers to of the Duke of Cambridge.
Her many roles as lady-in-waiting has also seen Lady Susan welcome Prime Ministers on their arrival at the palace and familiarising Princess Diana to palace life, to being spotted keeping Pippa Middleton company on a trip to church in Sandringham in 2017.
This year, she was seen alongside the Queen at the Trooping the Colour ceremonial event as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
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It was four years earlier that she was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 2013, during the Queen’s Birthday Honours. However, perhaps the most public display of friendship between Elizabeth and Lady Susan was in April 2021 for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
It’s said that the Queen personally asked for her to join her in the car to the Sovereign’s Entrance of Windsor Castle to the Galilee Porch of St George’s Chapel, as the monarch prepared to say her final farewell to her husband of 73 years.
Under the radar, these ladies-in-waiting worked tirelessly to provide the help needed to ensure the Queen could fulfil her duties to the public and to the crown.
Their loyal service supported Elizabeth throughout her notably long reign, quietly holding her up as she served her country. Theirs was a role often overlooked by the public, but never by the Queen – while their friendships and companionship were likely valued the most, above all.
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