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The Queen's Companions

Posted by Nellie <iframe src='https://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/info/user=Nellie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 27, 2022, 2:25 am

Queen Camilla has appointed six ladies to be Queen's Companions.

BBC link
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63768031

Daily Mail link
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11473099/Camilla-scraps-position-lady-waiting-Buckingham-Palace.html

I wonder if she will be giving them a Badge of Service to wear in public with her.

Here are the Badges of Service for ladies who attended Queen Elizabeth II.

Re: The Queen's Companions

Posted by Johan <iframe src='https://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/info/user=Johan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 27, 2022, 2:46 pm, in reply to "The Queen's Companions"

Silly to give them another name while their basic function is the same as that of ladies in waiting. Especially as some of the late Queen's ladies are continued as well.

Im wondering if there will be a new mistress of the robes for the coronation.

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Re: The Queen's Companions

Posted by Nellie <iframe src='https://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/info/user=Nellie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 27, 2022, 4:01 pm, in reply to "Re: The Queen's Companions"

I think the change in job title is spot on. The role has changed.
It demonstrates the new Queen's approach to her own position and the friends who will join her in public.

Re: The Queen's Companions

Posted by Johan <iframe src='https://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/info/user=Johan' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 28, 2022, 4:04 am, in reply to "Re: The Queen's Companions"

I tend to favour the approach Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands took.

When she succeeded she maintained the Grandmistress/Mistress of the Robes and ladies-in-waiting but did not appoint Dames du Palais.

The role of the ladies-in-waiting was changed into assistants with their own specialities and area's of interest. The ladies were involved with other courtiers (equerries and private secretaries) in arranging visits by the queen and receptions in the palace.

In other words the title was maintained but the role completely changed and has developed ever since. Just like the master of the horse is spending more time in arranging travel by car, train and plane than by horse or carriages.

Officially the ladies of a British Queen were divided in ladies of bedchamber and several other specific terms. By just altering that to lady-in-waiting would have been enough modernising especially as Camilla now had several court ladies as well as her six companions.
It will be interesting to see if these women will get a role in the coronation...

I wonder if Camilla has also appointed a successor to Angela Kelly as keeper of her private jewels or would that be an appointment by King Charles III as he probably inherited the bulk of his late mothers private jewels?

Previous Message

I think the change in job title is spot on. The role has changed.
It demonstrates the new Queen's approach to her own position and the friends who will join her in public.

Badges

Posted by Baxter <iframe src='https://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/info/user=Baxter' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 28, 2022, 11:37 am, in reply to "The Queen's Companions"

Thanks for those photos, Nellie. Does that book mention how many badges were made for the ladies-in-waiting? I have never seen more than two worn at the same event. Will have to look for pics, but I can recall at least two occasions when multiple ladies attended an event at Buckingham Palace and only a couple of them wore the badges, leading me to suspect that only two were created.

Re: Badges

Posted by Nellie <iframe src='https://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/info/user=Nellie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 28, 2022, 8:01 pm, in reply to "Badges"

Great question Baxter.
After delving into the book I do think each Lady did have a badge. Just when the badge is worn might not always be clear to us.

The writer does say "All the ladies have badges of office which are worn on the more important occasions."
Well that would account for a coronation, say, see pic below.

But I had thought the badge was worn only when on duty. So perhaps some occasions at the Palace have had two on duty and others present for a different reason. Maybe to make up numbers for dining.

I wonder what we have seen at State Openings of Parliament?

This pic shows six Ladies in Waiting following the Mistress of the Robes in procession.
Can we see if the Ladies are wearing badges? I think we need a better quality pic.

Terminology

Posted by Nellie <iframe src='https://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/info/user=Nellie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 28, 2022, 11:16 pm, in reply to "The Queen's Companions"

This link tells us that the King is keeping three of the late Queen's Ladies in Waiting to "assist His Majesty when hosting formal occasions at Buckingham Palace." They are to be known as Ladies of the Household. I did not recall seeing that title before but it is used in Royal Service Vol II 2001 by four authors. They say "Today the Ladies of the Household are the Mistress of the Robes, the Ladies of the Bedchamber and the Women of the Bedchamber, with such Extra Ladies and Extra Women as may from time to time be required." Also "None of the Ladies in Waiting receives a salary..." so I think we have simply got into a habit of referring to them all as Ladies in Waiting.

Re: Terminology - more

I should add that the authors include extensive lists of Ladies holding these positions.

For Queen Victoria they list only Maids of Honour.
For Queens Alexandra and Mary they add Maids of Honour to the lists.

For all other royal ladies other than Queens all attendants are listed as Lady in Waiting or Extra Lady in Waiting.

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