ladyinwaiting

A lady-in-waiting is a female attendant who serves a queen, princess, or other noblewoman within a royal or noble household. The role is typically a high-ranking court position reserved for women of noble birth or close family connections. A lady-in-waiting acts as companion and helper, attends on the royal person, assists with dressing and personal care, accompanies the mistress in ceremonies and travels, and may supervise other ladies-in-waiting or household staff. The appointment is usually at the pleasure of the sovereign or noblewoman and can be lifelong or span the duration of the monarch’s or mistress’s tenure.

Duties commonly include personal assistance, managing schedules, facilitating audiences, and maintaining propriety at court. The position blends intimate service with ceremonial function, granting the holder access to the queen or princess, and in some eras could carry political influence, especially when near the center of court life.

Historically, many European courts employed ladies-in-waiting as an integral part of the female wing of the royal household. The title and exact duties varied by country and period, with related offices such as maids of honour, women of the bedchamber, and ladies of the household. Service often conferred status and could provide advantageous marriage opportunities for the ladies themselves.

In modern contexts within constitutional monarchies, the role persists in some royal households but is frequently more formalized and ceremonial. Duties are defined by court protocol and can differ significantly between countries and eras.