114:
31:
132:
maintained an establishment of at least four Women of the
Bedchamber, one of whom at a time was usually in attendance. 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'
104:
and did not take orders from her. However, if a Lady of the
Bedchamber was present, a Woman of the Bedchamber would always defer to her. 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
88:
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
80:(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.
1188:
89:
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.
1438:
590:
1374:
117:
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
68:. Historically the term 'Gentlewoman of Her Majesty's Bedchamber' was sometimes used. In addition to the Women of the Bedchamber, queens (regnant or consort) have
273:
771:
153:
133:
or 'Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen'. The establishment was supplemented by 'extra' Women of the
Bedchamber, who might take turns on a more occasional basis.
113:
969:
916:
1417:
668:
633:
583:
1263:
1011:
921:
599:
97:
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.
1402:
1107:
1102:
45:
105:
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.
1248:
926:
809:
576:
1161:
1006:
883:
722:
34:
1303:
618:
1384:
1041:
1001:
1036:
156:(both of whom were initially appointed in 2002). All continued to take regular turns on duty in the latter years of her reign.
1222:
1344:
1288:
1258:
974:
964:
727:
145:
996:
763:
655:
365:
1178:
1173:
931:
911:
1334:
1298:
1016:
954:
650:
236:
1407:
1278:
1073:
837:
748:
30:
1253:
1205:
1021:
959:
941:
832:
638:
1168:
568:
1379:
1308:
804:
1273:
1217:
1135:
1112:
781:
101:
69:
1369:
1078:
1068:
1062:
1053:
901:
853:
525:
77:
1412:
1097:
824:
788:
732:
1318:
1232:
1227:
1212:
1156:
949:
858:
628:
38:
1390:
1293:
1128:
863:
814:
141:
129:
408:
893:
677:
188:
149:
137:
1364:
1351:
1339:
1283:
988:
906:
868:
613:
550:
513:
451:
1397:
694:
682:
65:
1151:
1183:
1028:
984:
878:
873:
704:
17:
1432:
1313:
1088:
776:
753:
643:
371:
136:
At the time of her death, the Women of the
Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II included
61:
57:
100:
In a description from 1728, a Woman of the
Bedchamber worked independently from the
1268:
699:
687:
623:
165:
1357:
1122:
122:
53:
561:
487:
463:
440:
407:, ed. R. O. Bucholz (London, 2006), pp. 24–25. British History Online
499:
Risk, James; Pownall, Henry; Stanley, David; Tamplin, John (2001).
1189:
High Constables and Guard of Honour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse
353:
formerly a Lady in Waiting to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
148:
and Mrs Robert de Pass (both of whom were appointed in 1987), and
118:
112:
29:
223:
The Hon. Mrs. Andrew Elphinstone (later Mrs. John Woodroffe) CVO
73:
572:
244:
had served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth 1949–1952
228:
had served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth from 1949
205:
had served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth from 1949
194:
had served as Lady in Waiting to Princess Elizabeth from 1948
409:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp24-25
551:
The London Gazette, Issue 42185, Page 7459, 4 November 1960.
600:
Royal Household in England, Scotland and the United Kingdom
514:
The London Gazette, Issue 39796, Page 1377, 10 March 1953.
452:
The London Gazette, Issue 51019, Page 9885, 4 August 1987.
399:'The bedchamber: Women of the Bedchamber 1702–1714', in
342:
formerly a Lady in Waiting to HRH the Princess Margaret
503:. Lingfield, Surrey: Third Millennium. pp. 79–81.
331:
formerly a Lady in Waiting to HRH the Duchess of Kent
242:
Extra Woman of the Bedchamber 1960–1973 and 1987–2005
72:(typically wives or widows of peers above the rank of
52:
is used to describe a woman (usually a daughter of a
421:
419:
417:
1327:
1241:
1197:
1144:
1087:
1052:
983:
940:
892:
846:
823:
797:
762:
741:
715:
664:
606:
339:The Hon. Mrs. (later Dame Annabel) Whitehead DCVO
144:(both of whom were appointed in 1960) along with
290:formerly Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen
164:Those who served as Women of the Bedchamber to
160:List of Women of the Bedchamber of Elizabeth II
1375:Armour-Bearer and Squire of His Majesty's Body
426:Allison, Ronald; Riddell, Sarah, eds. (1991).
584:
8:
1439:Positions within the British Royal Household
772:Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
970:Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal
917:Apothecary to the Household at Sandringham
591:
577:
569:
395:
393:
391:
389:
387:
310:Extra Woman of the Bedchamber 1987–2022
288:Extra Woman of the Bedchamber 1981–2006
255:Extra Woman of the Bedchamber 1960–1973
226:Extra Woman of the Bedchamber 1953–2017
216:Extra Woman of the Bedchamber 1972–1993
170:
1264:Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
383:
27:Female aide to a queen or queen consort
922:Apothecary to the Household at Windsor
665:Other great officers of the Household
328:Mrs. (later Dame) Fiona Henderson DCVO
237:Mrs. Alexander (later Lady) Abel Smith
1403:Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State
1063:Keeper (or Treasurer) of the Wardrobe
634:His Majesty's Representative at Ascot
46:Royal Household of the United Kingdom
7:
798:Master of the Household's Department
1249:Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom
1012:Surveyor of the King's Works of Art
810:Master of the Household of Scotland
252:Mrs. John (later Lady) Dugdale DCVO
1162:Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
742:Privy Purse and Treasurer's Office
723:Private Secretary to the Sovereign
35:Charlotte Clayton, Baroness Sundon
25:
1304:Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland
619:Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
614:Lord Chamberlain of the Household
430:. London: Macmillan. p. 590.
1385:Field Officer in Brigade Waiting
927:Coroner of the Queen's Household
464:"Court Circular, 11 August 2002"
401:Office-Holders in Modern Britain
1007:Surveyor of the King's Pictures
607:Great officers of the Household
150:The Hon. Dame Annabel Whitehead
374:, German and Nordic equivalent
350:Mrs. Michael Gordon Lennox CVO
1:
1345:Astronomer Royal for Scotland
1289:Principal Painter in Ordinary
975:Honorary Chaplain to the King
965:Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
728:Director for Security Liaison
624:Lord Steward of the Household
488:Court Circular, various dates
441:Court Circular, various dates
37:, Woman of the Bedchamber to
1079:Keeper of the Great Wardrobe
997:Keeper of the Royal Archives
656:Comptroller of the Household
1223:Keeper of the Queen's Swans
1108:Gentleman of the Bedchamber
1069:Comptroller of the Wardrobe
932:Medical Officer to The King
912:Apothecary to the Household
263:The Hon. Mary Morrison GCVO
1455:
1335:Defence Services Secretary
1299:Flower Painter in Ordinary
1259:Master of the King's Music
1017:Master of the Jewel Office
955:Deputy Clerk of the Closet
716:Private Secretary's Office
651:Treasurer of the Household
562:Court Circular 28 May 1999
154:Mrs. Michael Gordon Lennox
1279:Piper to the Queen Mother
838:Cofferer of the Household
764:Lord Chamberlain's Office
749:Keeper of the Privy Purse
526:"Lady Dugdale (obituary)"
501:Royal Service (Volume II)
405:Court Officers, 1660–1837
366:Première femme de Chambre
1254:Master of the Ceremonies
1206:Master of the Staghounds
1145:Bodyguards and guardians
1074:Cofferer of the Wardrobe
1022:Treasurer of the Chamber
960:Dean of the Chapel Royal
942:Ecclesiastical Household
833:Clerk of the Green Cloth
695:Keeper of the Privy Seal
639:Master of the Buckhounds
70:Ladies of the Bedchamber
1309:Grand Carver of England
1179:Silver Stick-in-Waiting
1118:Woman of the Bedchamber
847:Lords/ladies-in-waiting
805:Master of the Household
669:Great Officers of State
403:, Volume 11 (Revised),
307:Mrs. Robert de Pass CVO
50:Woman of the Bedchamber
18:Woman of the bedchamber
1408:His Majesty's Botanist
1274:Piper to the Sovereign
1242:Arts and entertainment
1218:Master of the Harriers
1136:Page of the Backstairs
1113:Lady of the Bedchamber
1103:Lord of the Bedchamber
1033:Historiographer Royal
782:Gentleman of the Horse
428:The Royal Encyclopedia
285:Mrs. Michael Wall DCVO
142:The Hon. Mary Morrison
126:
102:Lady of the Bedchamber
41:
1370:Personal aide-de-camp
1174:Gold Stick-in-Waiting
1169:Sovereign's Bodyguard
902:Physician to the King
854:Mistress of the Robes
274:The Lady Susan Hussey
213:Lady Rose Baring DCVO
116:
78:Mistress of the Robes
56:) attending either a
33:
1380:King's Flag Sergeant
1098:Groom of the Chamber
825:Board of Green Cloth
789:Master of the Revels
733:Royal Communications
318:Mrs. Christian Adams
1319:Pantler of Scotland
1233:Marker of the Swans
1228:Warden of the Swans
1213:Master of the Hawks
1157:Yeomen of the Guard
950:Clerk of the Closet
884:Mother of the Maids
859:Master of the Robes
629:Master of the Horse
368:, French equivalent
298:The Lady Elton DCVO
1413:King's Bargemaster
1391:Warden of the Mint
1294:Painter and Limner
1129:Groom of the Stool
864:Groom of the Robes
815:Butler of Scotland
202:Lady Alice Egerton
130:Queen Elizabeth II
127:
109:Queen Elizabeth II
42:
1426:
1425:
1418:Funeral directors
894:Medical Household
678:Lord High Steward
667:(currently among
357:
356:
189:Lady Margaret Hay
138:Lady Susan Hussey
121:commemoration in
64:, in the role of
16:(Redirected from
1446:
1394:
1365:Knight Marischal
1361:
1352:Geographer Royal
1340:Astronomer Royal
1284:Serjeant Painter
1209:
1132:
1065:
989:Royal Collection
907:Serjeant Surgeon
869:Groom in Waiting
593:
586:
579:
570:
564:
559:
553:
548:
542:
541:
539:
537:
522:
516:
511:
505:
504:
496:
490:
485:
479:
478:
476:
474:
468:The Royal Family
460:
454:
449:
443:
438:
432:
431:
423:
412:
397:
171:
21:
1454:
1453:
1449:
1448:
1447:
1445:
1444:
1443:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1422:
1398:Gentleman Usher
1389:
1356:
1328:Other positions
1323:
1237:
1204:
1193:
1140:
1127:
1083:
1061:
1048:
1002:Royal Librarian
979:
936:
888:
842:
819:
793:
758:
737:
711:
683:Lord Chancellor
666:
660:
602:
597:
567:
560:
556:
549:
545:
535:
533:
532:. 26 April 2004
530:Daily Telegraph
524:
523:
519:
512:
508:
498:
497:
493:
486:
482:
472:
470:
462:
461:
457:
450:
446:
439:
435:
425:
424:
415:
398:
385:
381:
362:
289:
243:
227:
162:
111:
95:
86:
66:lady-in-waiting
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1452:
1450:
1442:
1441:
1431:
1430:
1424:
1423:
1421:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1354:
1349:
1348:
1347:
1337:
1331:
1329:
1325:
1324:
1322:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1245:
1243:
1239:
1238:
1236:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1201:
1199:
1198:Animal keepers
1195:
1194:
1192:
1191:
1186:
1184:Yeomen Warders
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1165:
1164:
1154:
1148:
1146:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1138:
1133:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1094:
1092:
1091:and bedchamber
1085:
1084:
1082:
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1058:
1056:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1045:
1044:
1039:
1031:
1029:Crown Jeweller
1026:
1025:
1024:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
993:
991:
985:Royal Archives
981:
980:
978:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
946:
944:
938:
937:
935:
934:
929:
924:
919:
914:
909:
904:
898:
896:
890:
889:
887:
886:
881:
879:Maid of Honour
876:
874:Page of Honour
871:
866:
861:
856:
850:
848:
844:
843:
841:
840:
835:
829:
827:
821:
820:
818:
817:
812:
807:
801:
799:
795:
794:
792:
791:
786:
785:
784:
774:
768:
766:
760:
759:
757:
756:
751:
745:
743:
739:
738:
736:
735:
730:
725:
719:
717:
713:
712:
710:
709:
708:
707:
705:Knight Marshal
697:
692:
691:
690:
680:
674:
672:
662:
661:
659:
658:
653:
648:
647:
646:
641:
636:
626:
621:
616:
610:
608:
604:
603:
598:
596:
595:
588:
581:
573:
566:
565:
554:
543:
517:
506:
491:
480:
455:
444:
433:
413:
382:
380:
377:
376:
375:
369:
361:
358:
355:
354:
351:
348:
344:
343:
340:
337:
333:
332:
329:
326:
322:
321:
319:
316:
312:
311:
308:
305:
302:
301:
299:
296:
292:
291:
286:
283:
280:
279:
277:
271:
267:
266:
264:
261:
257:
256:
253:
250:
246:
245:
240:
234:
230:
229:
224:
221:
218:
217:
214:
211:
207:
206:
203:
200:
196:
195:
192:
186:
182:
181:
178:
175:
161:
158:
110:
107:
94:
91:
85:
82:
39:Queen Caroline
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1451:
1440:
1437:
1436:
1434:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1392:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1359:
1355:
1353:
1350:
1346:
1343:
1342:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1332:
1330:
1326:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1314:Master Carver
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1246:
1244:
1240:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1207:
1203:
1202:
1200:
1196:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1163:
1160:
1159:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1149:
1147:
1143:
1137:
1134:
1130:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1089:Privy chamber
1086:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1064:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1055:
1051:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1023:
1020:
1019:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
994:
992:
990:
986:
982:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
947:
945:
943:
939:
933:
930:
928:
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
908:
905:
903:
900:
899:
897:
895:
891:
885:
882:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
851:
849:
845:
839:
836:
834:
831:
830:
828:
826:
822:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
802:
800:
796:
790:
787:
783:
780:
779:
778:
777:Crown Equerry
775:
773:
770:
769:
767:
765:
761:
755:
754:Royal Almonry
752:
750:
747:
746:
744:
740:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
720:
718:
714:
706:
703:
702:
701:
698:
696:
693:
689:
686:
685:
684:
681:
679:
676:
675:
673:
670:
663:
657:
654:
652:
649:
645:
644:Clerk Marshal
642:
640:
637:
635:
632:
631:
630:
627:
625:
622:
620:
617:
615:
612:
611:
609:
605:
601:
594:
589:
587:
582:
580:
575:
574:
571:
563:
558:
555:
552:
547:
544:
531:
527:
521:
518:
515:
510:
507:
502:
495:
492:
489:
484:
481:
469:
465:
459:
456:
453:
448:
445:
442:
437:
434:
429:
422:
420:
418:
414:
410:
406:
402:
396:
394:
392:
390:
388:
384:
378:
373:
372:Chamber Woman
370:
367:
364:
363:
359:
352:
349:
346:
345:
341:
338:
335:
334:
330:
327:
324:
323:
320:
317:
314:
313:
309:
306:
304:
303:
300:
297:
294:
293:
287:
284:
282:
281:
278:
275:
272:
269:
268:
265:
262:
259:
258:
254:
251:
248:
247:
241:
238:
235:
232:
231:
225:
222:
220:
219:
215:
212:
209:
208:
204:
201:
198:
197:
193:
190:
187:
184:
183:
179:
176:
173:
172:
169:
167:
159:
157:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
134:
131:
124:
120:
115:
108:
106:
103:
98:
92:
90:
83:
81:
79:
75:
71:
67:
63:
62:queen consort
59:
58:queen regnant
55:
51:
47:
40:
36:
32:
19:
1269:Groom Porter
1152:King's Guard
1117:
700:Earl Marshal
688:Purse Bearer
557:
546:
534:. Retrieved
529:
520:
509:
500:
494:
483:
471:. Retrieved
467:
458:
447:
436:
427:
404:
400:
166:Elizabeth II
163:
135:
128:
99:
96:
87:
49:
43:
1393:(1216–1829)
1360:(1102–1261)
1208:(1738–1782)
1131:(1509–1901)
315:1997–c.2002
379:References
168:included:
146:Lady Elton
1358:Justiciar
1123:Chamberer
347:2002–2022
336:2002–2022
325:1999–2006
295:1987–2022
270:1960–2022
260:1960–2022
249:1973–2002
233:1973–1987
210:1953–1972
199:1953–1959
185:1953–1975
76:), and a
48:the term
1433:Category
1054:Wardrobe
1042:Scotland
360:See also
123:Southsea
1037:England
125:in 2019
93:History
44:In the
536:28 May
473:26 May
180:Notes
84:Duties
174:Years
119:D-Day
987:and
538:2022
475:2022
276:GCVO
239:DCVO
191:DCVO
177:Name
152:and
140:and
74:earl
54:peer
60:or
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416:^
386:^
671:)
592:e
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