Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-24
WAITING ON A QUEEN.
Women of Noble Blood Who Serve
Her Majesty, Alexandra.
From London lid Bits.


1t is the privilege of a queen to be minis
tered to by ladies In whose veins flows some
of the noblest blood among her subjects;
and when, as in Queen Alcxandra's case,
she can call each aristocratc servitor a
personal and devoted friend. bound to her
as much by ties of affection as Of loyalty.
she is indeed to be envied
There is perhaps no greater lady in all the
peerage than the Duchess of Buccleuch.
who is proud to be mistress of the robes 10
her majesty The daughter. sister. wife,
and aunt Of dukes. she has every qualiica-
ton for her office which exalted rank can
give her; and when add to this that she
is tall, stately and handsome. n queen OF
society and woman of rare charm and
many gifts, and that she was an intimate
friend of our late queen. as she is of Queen
Alexandra, 1t is clear that she is of excep-
tlonal qualifications for her high office.
The mistress of the robes is chief of all
the queens ladies and brilliant and i'm
posing figure at ali state ce-emonials while
in addition to the manifold duties of her
position, she enjoys the doubtful privilege
of giving a state dinner on the evening of
the opening of parliament. and of being at
tired in black when IN attendance at court
Next in Importance to the mistress of
the robes come the four ladies Of the bed
chamber who are rarely of less rank than
that of countess. Unlike the mistress Of
the robes whose appointment is political,
THESE ldultS appointed DIV the queen.
and are usually either personal and dear
friends or the wives or daughters of dis
tinguished men who have established a
claim to royal gratitude.
The Countess of Antrim, for instance. was
the daughter of the late Gerald Grey an
old and dear friend of Queen Victoria. and
Lady Gosford is daughter of the Duchess
OF Manchester one of the most intimate
friends of the royal family. All four ladies'
Of the bedchamber are women of great
social gifts and charm. and rather the
queens friends than her servants.
The duties are both light and Ieisant in
volving residence at court rarely exceed
ing six weeks, which is made as agreeable
to them as possible. whether amid the cere-
mcnial Of Windsor and Buckingham Palace
or In the peaceful environment of Balmoral
All their expenses except those of dress
are borne by the queen, and, as the ladies'
are usually chosen from those who are not
too literally provided for the salary Is a
very comfortable addition to their private
means.
The two extra ladies of the bedchamber
are usually peeresses whose days of active
service are practically over. and whose re-
ward is sinecure office with an acceptable
salary attached The two extra ladies' of
Queen Alexandra are much older than her
majesty, and We're among her earliest
friends and attendants when she first came
to US a radiant bride from beyond the
seas"
OF the four bedchamber women the most
notable is the Hon. Charlotte KnoIlys, the
daughter of Lord knollys. who for many
years has been an intimate and highly
trusted COMPANION of the queen. Unlike
the other ladies. Miss Knolys is in con-
slant attendance on her majesty acts as
her amanuensis. and is Indispensable in "A
hundred ways.
OF the maids of honor there are four MI
beautiful and gifted, and in every way
charming. Two of them are the lovely
twin daughters of the late Lord Vivian to
whom the queen is greatly attached Thcy
are always, when possible i'm attendance
together. and by the queens wish dress
exactly alike. A very gifted young lady is
the Hon. Mary Dyke. daughter of Sir Will
lam Hart Dyke. whose musical skill and
queen; and the Hon. Sylvia Edwardes. who
was favorite of Queen Victoria is almost
equally clever and charming.
To the maids of honor falls the agreeable
duty of acting in turn as the queens COM
panions; they read. sing and play to her
and generally entertain her. They fire.
quently accompany her on drives and
walks, share her hobbies. from fancy work
to photography, and. in short. fulfil their
mission in life by being ! .tty. amiable
helpful and amusing. The lot of the maids
of honor Is indeed an envable one. for when
they marry they receive the welcome dowar
of f1Do. they are entitled to the descrip-
ton of Honorable" for the rest of their
lives. are practically assured of a suite Of
rooms at Hampton Court. and probable
place in the royal household for their hus-
bands.
Indeed. apart from the great honor. the
profit and pleasure of being one of the
queens ladies'" they always assured
of the royal favor and everything that it
means in the way of unfailing kindness and
consideration.