Three of the Princess Royal’s Ladies-in-Waiting have been honoured by The Queen in her delayed 2020 Birthday Honours List.
Leonora, Countess of Lichfield, Araminta Ritchie, and Jane Holderness-Roddam all serve as Ladies-in-Waiting to Princess Anne, and have all been recognised for their efforts.
The three ladies have each become Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Royal Victorian Order is awarded to individuals who have personally served the monarch with distinction.
It was created in April 1896 by Queen Victoria, who wished to formally recognise those who had personally served her.
Recipients of the Royal Victorian Order are entirely in The Queen’s gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street.
A Lady-in-waiting’s jobs mainly consist of helping their mistress collect flowers at events, attending private and personal matters, running errands and handling general correspondence.
Unlike in past times, not all Ladies-in-Waiting are of noble birth. Many are siblings or close friends of the ladies they serve.
The Duchess of Cornwall’s ladies include an old school friend and her sister Annabelle Elliot. The late Diana, Princess of Wales had three ladies from the day she was married and later added five more. Princess Diana’s ladies included her sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
