The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-21
THE QUEENS HOUSEHOLD
what tho Women Who urround tho Soy
er.lem DO NM A IA d.

fFeieh 40 hnh are Ihsts
From reliable guide TO royal house
| holds you may see tnat \tctOrld mas
/ the following ladies' officially gdzetted {,
! their posts. The mistress of the robes
! whose duties are confined 10 state cere
mOnials and Official occasions, must be
| OF the rank OF the Duchess. and ass this
! Is the only ONCE held by % lady Wnlcn
| Is changed under each political admins
| tration. the choice must he between
! those ladies' OF mat rank whose nus-
! bands are adherents OF the existing
! government. hen. as at the present
! time, mo- Duchess has been named FOR
! the appointment. IL has been the Queen
| pleasure that the position snQuid remain
vacant, ami upon the few occasions
Wnen the Attendance OF the mistress or
the robes Is an absolute necessity. Her
Majesty has appointed one OF her ladies'
u act The mistress OF the robes ac-
companies the sovereign ON all state oc-
cassiOns such as drawing room. open
ing OF Parliament. etc, and her place
is close 10 the queen at such times. a
state carriage Is always set apart tor
the use Of the mistress OF the robes ana
IS sent from the Royal News tor her
conveyance 10 the palace when htr pee
Sence is required at the drawing 1OoWs,
etc. Among many distinguished women
VINO have held the Office. which appears
10 have existed tor many centuries. may
De mentioned the Countess Of sun llk
duchess of Dorset Lady Harvey and the
Duchess OF Marlborough who held not
only the post OF mistress OF the robes
but also of groom or the stole and keep
er or the priVy purse. 10 appears that
the Office OF mother or the maids was
eventually merged into the higher one
though OF late years the mistress OF the
robes has been only associated with state
ceremonals, ana has not any authority
or responsibility connected with other
ladies or the household. Formerly the
mistress OF the robes wore a gold key
as badge or Oiilce. the same as IS sun
worn by the Lord Chamberlain. ana
very unseemly quarrels are recorded
when Sarah, Duchess OF Malboroueh
was requested 10 deliver up the key u
her successor, the Duchess OF Somcr-
set.
The Duchess Of Southerland was app
pointed mistress of the robes Of Queen
Tor many years. The Duchess OF Man
chester. Duchess OF Bedford. Duchess o.
Wellington and the Duchess Of RoXbursn
have also been mistress Of robes during
Eight ladies Of the bed-chambcr who
are usually called ladies i'm waiting. ar
tend personally on the Queen during !
their waits. and during that time reside |
in the royal palace. These ladies drive !
or walk with her Majesty. and are az |
ways in ATTENDANCE % fulhli any duties !
requests Of all kinds are sent % these |
ladies' which have 10 be acknowledged /
and they often write letters f1rtha queen. |
During their attendance the ladies' in |
Majesty drives or walks with any mem
bers Of the royal family and ICES not
require the attendance OF one of the
ladies' they are free to 20 out and
carriage is always al their disposal az
Osborne and Windsor and BalmOraL
In her MaJesty's published Diary of
Life I'm the Highlands We see on what
Initiate terms thesc ladies' are treated.
aEd no one but Ieeress can lid the
Office
Bed-chamber women DO not now full
4 the duties which apparently fell 10
their snare y en- the office was @. cated.
)r. irdecd. a. late as the reign Of George
H.. when We know hat the Queens bed
chamber women had TO attend her Ma
Iestys toilet at morning and evening
Al present the duties are very trininV.
ma the eight ladies' are only required 10
luend any court ceremonies or recel-
Ions which may occur during the time
II waiting appointed 10 each during the
'car. Her Majesty has OF late appointed
eVeral extra ladies' and women of tho
,edch1mber without salary
the eight unmarried ladies' who hold !
Nice $ maids OF honor have some priv I
hges. Ihey are given the prefix Of hon
Iable, and on marrying receive from /
he queen the gift Of 1900. one or two /
naids or honor reside for a fortnight
4 Time at Windsor or Osborne. but
er MAJESTY ldom takes more than
The distinctive badge worn by maids
4 honor Is bow of scarlet ribbon on
~ 7iDu'toi, m"ile the ladies' IN walt
ls wear white bow with the queens
ameO portrait.
The dory OF a maid OF honor has
cen given for at least 80 vecrs bur
ACCORDING TO her Maiesty's pleasure
"a IN 1908 IL was refused to one lady
no engaged herself in marriage wi,hout
lie consent OF her royal mistress, In
re domestic arrangements for the com. {
, ,rt OF the royal suite a bed and sitting. !
y, ION IS appo9ruoned 10 each lady. and
ave not been specially commanded 10