Camilla scraps position of lady-in-waiting at Buckingham Palace

The position of lady-in-waiting has been scrapped at Buckingham Palace, bringing to an end a centuries-old tradition.

Combining the roles of companion, adviser and secretary, ladies-in-waiting played a key part in Royal life, accompanying the late Queen and her sister Princess Margaret on official duties and foreign tours.

But in a sign of the new Queen Consort Camilla’s unfussy approach, they will be replaced by six aides styled ‘Queen’s Companions’. 

Last night the Palace named them as Sarah Troughton, Jane von Westenholz, Fiona the Marchioness of Lansdowne, an interior designer, Lady Katharine Brooke and Baroness Carlyn Chisholm, a Conservative peer. The sixth is Camilla’s close friend Lady Sarah Keswick, whose husband, Sir Chips Keswick, retired as chairman of Arsenal football club in 2020. All have been loyal to Camilla.

The position of lady-in-waiting has been scrapped at Buckingham Palace, bringing to an end a centuries-old tradition – in a sign of the new Queen Consort Camilla’s unfussy approach

Last night the Palace named Sarah Troughton (pictured) as one of the ‘Queen’s Companions’

Lady Sarah Keswick (pictured) was also named. Her husband, Sir Chips Keswick, retired as chairman of Arsenal football club in 2020

Baroness Carlyn Chisholm, a Conservative peer, will be another of the ‘Queen’s Companion’

Fiona the Marchioness of Lansdowne (right), an interior designer, is another appointed to the role

A Palace source said they will receive a nominal fee to cover their expenses in much the same way as ladies-in-waiting.

The Queen Consort has also hired her first dedicated equerry, a male adviser playing the same role. He was last night named as Major Ollie Plunkett, of The Rifles, of which the Queen Consort is Colonel-in-Chief. He will work alongside her private secretary. Some of the Queen’s Companions will appear publicly with her for the first time on Tuesday, at a Palace reception to highlight violence against women and girls.

Ladies-in-waiting answered correspondence, helped host events and accompanied female Royals on their travels. The new role, a Palace source said, was to take into account the changing needs of the 75-year-old Queen Consort who won’t be required ‘to be in attendance as regularly’. A Palace spokesman said: ‘The role of the Queen’s Companion will be to support the Queen Consort in some of her key official and state duties.’

Combining the roles of companion, adviser and secretary, ladies-in-waiting played a key part in Royal life, accompanying the late Queen and her sister Princess Margaret on official duties and foreign tours. 

The late Queen’s ladies-in-waiting have been kept on but will now be known as ladies of the household. They are Lady Susan Hussey, Dame Mary Morrison and Dame Annabel Whitehead.

A Palace spokesman added that the former ladies-in-waiting would ‘continue to assist His Majesty the King in hosting formal occasions at Buckingham Palace’.