Cunning Facts About Ladies-in-Waiting
Ladies-in-waiting weren’t just “professional friends” to the rich. These women were also trusted as discrete messengers, state spies, household accountants, personal stylists, and just generally entertaining people to have at parties.
In rare occasions, a lady-in-waiting’s intimate knowledge of intrigue could grow so great, she could threaten to eclipse the queen herself. No wonder the court used ranks among ladies to keep everyone in order.
Fix that curtsey to these 43 facts about ladies-in-waiting.
Ladies-in-Waiting Facts
43. It’s Me or the Girls
A British prime minister once turned down his job because Queen Victoria refused to fire her ladies-in-waiting. Confused? In 1839, the Whig prime minister Lord Melbourne intended to resign.
A young Queen Victoria reluctantly invited Conservative leader Robert Peel to form the new government.
But since his party would be a weak minority government, Peel demanded that Victoria fire several of her most beloved ladies-in-waiting, who just happened to be married or related to chief Whig politicians.
Victoria was originally distraught and refused to cave to his demands, forcing Peel to decline the position.
But when Peel was elected Prime Minister of a majority government in 1841, the Queen toed the party line and replaced some of her Whig ladies with Conservative gals. The staffing scandal would be fittingly known as “The Bedchamber Crisis.”
42. Who Needs a Paycheck When We Have Wax?
In the household of Marie Antoinette, her ladies were more than welcome to wear discarded clothes of their most generous mistress. They were also “allowed”
to take home unused candles—a benevolence that actually netted a healthy profit for the lucky maids.
41. That’s Nothing, Mom
At least in England, the number of ladies-in-waiting on staff could vary greatly from Queen to Queen. For example: the mid-15th-century queen, Elizabeth Woodville, had just five ladies-in waiting.
Her daughter, Elizabeth of York, would have as many as 36.
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