Queen Camilla has decided not to appoint any Ladies-in-Waiting in an attempt to modernise the monarchy.
The King and Queen are known to want to revamp the institution of monarchy for the 21st century, and the decision not to appoint any ladies is another step in this direction.
Her Majesty has, however, appointed six of her closest friends to become ‘Queen’s Companions’ – a new role.
A Queen’s Companion is similar to the role of a Lady-in-Waiting, however, they will not be expected to deal with administration or correspondence.
The six women will, however, be seen accompanying The Queen as she conducts various engagements.
Some of the ladies are understood to be appearing publicly with Her Majesty for the first time next week when the 75-year-old Queen attends a Violence Against Women and Girls reception at Buckingham Palace.
The six Queen’s Companions are:
- Sarah Troughton – former Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess of Kent and a longstanding friend to Queen Camilla.
- Jane von Westenholz – longstanding friend, and the mother of the woman who introduced Prince Harry to Meghan Markle.
- Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne – friend and interior designer
- Lady Katherine Brooke – the daughter of Lady Susan Hussey, longstanding Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II.
- Baroness Carlyn Chisholm – formerly a Conservative member of the House of Lords. Now becomes politically neutral.
- Lady Sarah Keswick – longstanding friend whose husband was chairman of Arsenal Football Club for 15 years.
Queen Camilla has also appointed Major Ollie Plunket of The Rifles as her Equerry.
The Ladies-in-Waiting who served Queen Elizabeth II have been retained by The King, and are now known as ‘Ladies of the Household’.
