What is a lady in waiting and who is Susan Rhodes?
QUEENS tend to have at least one Lady in Waiting, whether they're Queen Regnant, Queen Consort, or Queen mother.
The late Queen had a number of Ladies in Waiting throughout her long reign, and had three tiers of Ladies in Waiting, with one titled Lady of the Bedchamber.
The Queen had previously also had a Mistress of the Robes, however, no one had been appointed to this role following the death of Ann Fortune FitzRoy, the Duchess of Grafton, who had held the role from 1987 until her death in late 2021.
Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, held the position of Lady of the Bedchamber.
Lady Susan Hussey, The Honourable Mary Morrison, Dame Annabel Whitehead, The Lady Elton, Phillipa de Pass and Mrs. Michael Gordon Lennox made up the Women of the Bedchamber.
Lady Elizabeth Leeming and Susan Rhodes were Extra Ladies in Waiting, appointed in 2017.
What is a Lady in Waiting?
A Lady in Waiting is a female personal assistant at a Court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman.
While many tend to women from noble families themselves, they will still be of lower status than the woman they attend to.
In courts that practise polygamy, Ladies in Waiting may also become consorts to the King.
Famously, King Henry VIII found three of his wives among his previous wife’s Ladies-In-Waiting.
What does a Lady-in-Waiting do?
The duties held by these women vary from country to country.
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In the UK, Ladies in Waiting act as personal assistants to the Queen, and will assist in day-to-day activities, including running errands, delivering messages, organising correspondence, and sometimes they will also have supervision over servants.
They are also likely to accompany the Queen on royal tours and visits.
How much does a lady-in-waiting get paid?
While the position is considered a huge honour among aristocratic circles, it’s one that is ultimately unpaid.
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The role is usually given to women who can afford to go without an income, and there expenses while attending to the Queen will be covered by the Crown estate.
Who is Susan Rhodes?
Susan Rhodes was one of the last Ladies in Waiting to be appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, joining alongside Lady Elizabeth Leeming in 2017.
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She is the wife of Simon Rhodes, whose late mother Margaret was The Queen's best friend and cousin.
Susan formed part of the “HMS Bubble” of those who isolated with the Queen at Windsor Castle during the COVID-19 pandemic.