Queen Victoria’s Ladies

compiled by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Listed chronologically by order of appointment, years indicate the length of service with Unofficial Royalty articles, Wikipedia or The Peerage articles linked if available.

The Mistress of the Robes was always a Duchess and attended Queen Victoria on every State occasion. She had precedence over every lady of the Court and when in residence, presided at the Household table. She looked over and passed on the Queen’s personal bills sent to her from the Robes Office. During Queen Victoria’s reign, the Mistress of the Robes was a political appointment and changed when the political party of the government changed.

Ladies of the Bedchamber were always wives of peers. Only one Lady of the Bedchamber was in waiting at a time. She was always ready to attend to the Queen during her drives. The Lady-in-Waiting attended all State occasions and presided over the Household table when the Mistress of the Robes was not present. A Lady of the Bedchamber had two to three waits a year from twelve to thirty days at a time.

Women of the Bedchamber were usually daughters of a peer. They were required to always be ready to attend the Queen but did not have to reside at the Court. A Woman of the Bedchamber had three to four waits a year from twelve to thirty days at a time.

Maids of Honour were young ladies from good families and were selected by Queen Victoria. On being appointed, they would receive and enjoy for life, the courtesy title of The Honorable. Two Maids of Honour were always in attendance to the Queen and resided at Court while in waiting. Upon being married, a Maid of Honour received a gift of £1,000. A Maid of Honour had three to four waits a year for four weeks at a time.

Extra Ladies of the Bedchamber, Extra Women of the Bedchamber and Extra Maids of Honour did not receive salaries and performed no duties. However, they were occasionally called into waiting to fill a temporary vacancy.

Mistresses of the Robes (*Unofficial Royalty article)

Ladies of the Bedchamber (*Unofficial Royalty article)

Women of the Bedchamber

Resident Women of the Bedchamber

  • Miss Mary Anne Davys (later Mrs. Pratt): 1837-1888 – Mary Anne was the daughter of Queen Victoria’s tutor The Right Reverend George Davys, Bishop of Peterborough. Out of respect for the Bishop, Victoria selected Mary Anne to be part of her Household when she became Queen. Because Mary Anne, did not fit any of the requirements to become one of the other Ladies, a new title was made for her, Resident Woman of the Bedchamber.
  • Miss Ina Erskine McNeill 1888-1895

Extra Women of the Bedchamber

Honorary Woman of the Bedchamber

Maids of Honour

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