Woman of the Bedchamber

In the Royal Household of the United Kingdom the term Woman of the Bedchamber is used to describe a woman (usually a daughter of a peer) attending either a queen regnant or queen consort, in the role of lady-in-waiting. Historically the term 'Gentlewoman of Her Majesty's Bedchamber' was sometimes used.[1] In addition to the Women of the Bedchamber, queens (regnant or consort) have Ladies of the Bedchamber (typically wives or widows of peers above the rank of earl), and a Mistress of the Robes (usually a duchess) who is the senior female member of her household. The Women of the Bedchamber are usually in regular attendance, but the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber are normally only required for major events and occasions.

Charlotte Clayton, Baroness Sundon, Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Caroline

Duties

When 'in Waiting', a Woman of the Bedchamber might be expected to accompany the Queen on public or semi-private engagements, make purchases on the Queen's behalf or other arrangements of a personal nature. She might enquire after the wellbeing of acquaintances who are unwell and sometimes attend memorial services on the Queen's behalf. During the reign of Elizabeth II the Women of the Bedchamber dealt substantially with the Queen's private correspondence, and replied to letters on her behalf.[2]

History

Historically, the duties of a Woman of the Bedchamber were to attend the royal woman and help her bathe, get dressed, undressed, and so forth.[1]

In a description from 1728, a Woman of the Bedchamber worked independently from the Lady of the Bedchamber and did not take orders from her.[1] However, if a Lady of the Bedchamber was present, a Woman of the Bedchamber would always defer to her.[1] If a Lady of the Bedchamber was present when a Woman of the Bedchamber arrived to dress the queen, for example, she would not dress the queen herself, but instead pass the garments to the Lady of the Bedchamber, who in turn helped the queen put them on. The procedure was the same in other respects.[1]

Queen Elizabeth II
The Hon. Mary Morrison, who served as a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II from 1960 until the Queen's death in 2022, accompanying the Queen to the national D-Day commemoration in Southsea in 2019

Queen Elizabeth II maintained an establishment of at least four Women of the Bedchamber, one of whom at a time was usually in attendance.[2] For most of the Queen's reign they each served in rotation, remaining on duty for a fortnight at a time, during which period they were referred to as 'Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty' or 'Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen'.[3] The establishment was supplemented by 'extra' Women of the Bedchamber, who might take turns on a more occasional basis.[2]

At the time of her death, the Women of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II included Lady Susan Hussey and The Hon. Mary Morrison (both of whom were appointed in 1960) along with Lady Elton and Mrs Robert de Pass (both of whom were appointed in 1987),[4] and The Hon. Dame Annabel Whitehead and Mrs. Michael Gordon Lennox (both of whom were initially appointed in 2002).[5] All continued to take regular turns on duty in the latter years of her reign.[6]

List of Women of the Bedchamber of Elizabeth II

Those who served as Women of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth II included:[7]

YearsNameNotes
1953–1975Lady Margaret Hay DCVOhad served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth from 1948
1953–1959Lady Alice Egertonhad served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth from 1949
1953–1972Lady Rose Baring DCVOExtra Woman of the Bedchamber 1972-1993
The Hon. Mrs. Andrew Elphinstone (later Mrs. John Woodroffe) CVOExtra Woman of the Bedchamber 1953-2017
had served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth from 1949
1973–1987Mrs. Alexander (later Lady) Abel Smith DCVOExtra Woman of the Bedchamber 1960-1973 and 1987-2005[8]
had served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth 1949-1952

1973 -2022 The Lady Airlie.DCVO A Lady of the Bedchamber

1973–2002[9]Mrs. John (later Lady) Dugdale DCVOExtra Woman of the Bedchamber 1960-1973[10]
1960–2022The Hon. Mary Morrison GCVO
1960–2022The Lady Susan Hussey GCVO
Mrs. Michael Wall DCVOExtra Woman of the Bedchamber 1981-2006
formerly Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen
1987–2022The Lady Elton DCVO
Mrs. Robert de Pass CVOExtra Woman of the Bedchamber 1987-2022
1997–c.2002Mrs. Christian Adams
1999–2006Mrs. (later Dame) Fiona Henderson DCVO[11]formerly a Lady in Waiting to HRH the Duchess of Kent
2002–2022The Hon. Mrs. (later Dame Annabel) Whitehead DCVOformerly a Lady in Waiting to HRH the Princess Margaret
2002–2022Mrs. Michael Gordon Lennox CVOformerly a Lady in Waiting to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

See also

References
  1. 'The bedchamber: Women of the Bedchamber 1702-1714', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain, Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660-1837, ed. R. O. Bucholz (London, 2006), pp. 24-25. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp24-25 [accessed 17 August 2016].
  2. Allison, Ronald; Riddell, Sarah, eds. (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. London: Macmillan. p. 590.
  3. Court Circular, various dates
  4. The London Gazette, Issue 51019, Page 9885, 4 August 1987.
  5. "Court Circular, 11 August 2002". The Royal Family. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  6. Court Circular, various dates
  7. Risk, James; Pownall, Henry; Stanley, David; Tamplin, John (2001). Royal Service (Volume II). Lingfield, Surrey: Third Millennium. pp. 79–81.
  8. The London Gazette, Issue 39796, Page 1377, 10 March 1953.
  9. "Lady Dugdale (obituary)". Daily Telegraph. 26 April 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  10. The London Gazette, Issue 42185, Page 7459, 4 November 1960.
  11. Court Circular 28 May 1999
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