Woman of the Bedchamber

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 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.

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.'The bedchamber: Women of the Bedchamber 1702–1714', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain, Volume 11 (Revised), Court Officers, 1660–1837, ed. R. O. Bucholz (London, 2006), pp. 24–25. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol11/pp24-25 [accessed 17 August 2016].

In a description from 1728, a Woman of the Bedchamber worked independently from the Lady of the Bedchamber 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 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.

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Queen Elizabeth II maintained an establishment of at least four Women of the Bedchamber, one of whom at a time was usually in attendance.{{cite book |editor1-last=Allison |editor1-first=Ronald |editor2-last=Riddell |editor2-first=Sarah |title=The Royal Encyclopedia |date=1991 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |page=590}} For most of the Queen's reign they 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' or 'Lady-in-Waiting to The Queen'.[https://www.royal.uk/court-circular Court Circular, various dates] The establishment was supplemented by 'extra' Women of the Bedchamber, who might take turns on a more occasional basis.

At the time of her death, the Women of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II included Lady Susan Hussey and Mary Anne Morrison (both of whom were appointed in 1960) along with Lady Elton and Mrs Robert de Pass (both of whom were appointed in 1987),[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/51019/page/9885 The London Gazette, Issue 51019, Page 9885, 4 August 1987.] and Annabel Whitehead and Mrs Michael Gordon Lennox (both of whom were initially appointed in 2002).{{cite web |title=Court Circular, 11 August 2002 |url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular |website=The Royal Family |access-date=26 May 2022}} All continued to take regular turns on duty in the latter years of her reign.[https://www.royal.uk/court-circular Court Circular, various dates]

Those who served as Women of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth II included:{{cite book |last1=Risk |first1=James |last2=Pownall |first2=Henry |last3=Stanley |first3=David |last4=Tamplin |first4=John |title=Royal Service (Volume II) |date=2001 |publisher=Third Millennium |location=Lingfield, Surrey |pages=79-81}}

• Première femme de Chambre, French equivalent
• Chamber Woman, German and Nordic equivalent
• Chamberer, female servant in the bedchamber at Tudor and Stuart courts

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{{British Monarchy Household}}

Category:Positions within the British Royal Household