WHAT DOES A "LADY IN WAITING" ACTUALLY DO?
The answer may be "everything." Sometimes called a "maid" I can't promise you if you get a job/role being a Lady In Waiting you won't do some house work, but a Personal Assistant is more like it. Except the at the women who do this work don't get paid. They are usually from rich families or in rich marriages and of the nobility themselves and don't "need" to work for pay. It's an honor and a tradition. So is paying what's called "room and board" or for travel expenses. Usually a Queen or a Princess (at least the ones who are working) has several. Some of these women travel with the Woman of higher rank or perform certain functions such as attending to public duties while others might be on what's called "a two week rotation" followed by four weeks off, so it's part-time, yet not too flexible. Sure there are perks. Seeing close up the work of the Queen or traveling the world with a Princess can mean seeing history in the making or watching a marriage fall apart.
According to an article in Women and Home, entitled "Who is the Queen's Trusted Lady-In-Waiting And What Exactly Does She Do?" by Laura Harmon, published in April of this year, the Queen, Elizabeth II, has had a trusted Lady-In-Waiting by her side for decades and this woman even attended the funeral of Prince Phillip, the Queen's husband, with the Queen. (We all know how restricted the attendance was for that event.) Her name is Lady Susan Hussey, a Baroness, who first came into the Queen's employ about the time Prince Andrew was born and the Queen needed someone to do the secretarial duty of making out Thank You notes. Lady Susan was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 2013 and this is the highest rank personally granted by the sovereign. Just as our Mistress of the Month, Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Alice Cavendish was, for her work for Princess Margaret.
According to Cheatsheet.com, an article called "The Surprising Duties of Royal Family Ladies in Waiting", by Milla Henson, published in May of this year, The Mistress of Robes takes care of the Queens wardrobe - including what tiara she might wear, while the Mistress of the Bedchamber is the Queens Best friend, because she helps her dress, undress, bathe, and get ready for bed. Since the women who work at Waiting are considered friends and worthy of trust, they never retire.
How many of you would like to try this line of work?
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