SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla appoints the Duchess of Kent’s former lady-in-waiting as her new companion, as well as Lady Susan Hussey’s daughter and a former Conservative Peer

Queen Camilla has appointed six of her closest friends as ‘Queen’s Companions’ – a new role created to replace that of Lady-in-Waiting.

Her Majesty’s appointments have now been made publicly available, with the six aides expected to accompany The Queen on the official engagements she undertakes.

Amongst those appointed to the role of Queen’s Companion is Sarah Troughton – one of Camilla’s closest friends.

A second cousin to King Charles, Mrs Troughton has been the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire since 2012, and is the first woman to hold the post in its 500 year history.

From 1990 to 2000, she was a Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, accompanying Katharine to her official engagements and dealing with her correspondence.

Also appointed to the role of Queen’s Companion is Lady Katherine Brooke, a close friend of The King and Queen.

Lady Katherine has all the knowledge needed to assist Camilla, with her mother, Lady Susan Hussey serving Queen Elizabeth II for over 60 years as a Lady-in-Waiting.

Lady Katherine will join her mother in Buckingham Palace, with Lady Susan being retained by The King to serve as a Lady of the Household.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen, a life peer, has also been appointed to the newly created role by Queen Camilla.

Baroness Chisholm was appointed to the House of Lords in 2014 as a Conservative Peer.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen – photo by Roger Harris / UK Parliament

She served as a government whip under Boris Johnson, Theresa May, and David Cameron.

Upon her appointment as a Queen’s Companion, Baroness Chisholm resigned the Conservative Party whip, and now sits as a politically non-affiliated member.

Another other Queen’s Companions is Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne.

The Marchioness is a successful interior designer, and has often been spotted at events alongside television interior designer Kirsty Allsop.

Two other longstanding friends, Jane von Westenholz and Lady Sarah Keswick, have also been appointed to the newly created role.

Mrs von Westenholz is the mother of the woman who introduced Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, and Lady Sarah is married to the former chairman of Arsenal Football Club.