QUEEN MARYS HOUSEHOLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 495, 28 August 1912, Page 7

QUEEN MARYS HOUSEHOLD.

DUTIES OF THE WOMEN WHO OCCUPY POSTS OF HONOUR.

The ladies of Queen Mary's household are divided into four classes. First comes the mistress of the robes, then ladies of the bedchamber, usually styled ladies in waiting, women of the bedchamber, and maids of honour. Queen Victoria as a reigning Sovereign had eight ladies of each class in her household.

The number retained by a Queen Consort, however, varies according to hsr pleasure and convenience. Queen Mary has at present in her service one lady-in-waiting, three sxtra ladies-in-waiting, and four women of the bed-chamber. Maids of honour have not yet been appointed.

The office of mistress of the robes to a Queen Regnant is a political one, and changes with the Government ; but that of a Queen Consort is in her own gift, and may be held for an indefinite period. The mistress of the robes must always be a duch2ss, whereas in case of a Queen Consort a widowed duchess may be appointed if more convenient.

The duties of a mistress of the robes are limited to State occasions. This high official is in the Royal suite at Courts, Palace balls, and at ;he meeting of Parliament. At such times she stands behind the Queen, and she walks behind her Royal mistress in any State procession. Her duties are many at the time of a Coronation, and during the ceremony she is in close attendance on her Royal lady. When their Majesties are in London a mistress of the robes resides in her own house, and is conveyed to and from the scene of her duties in one of the Royal carriages. But if the Court is at Windsor she remains under the roof of Windsor Castle.

The Duchess of Devonshire, who has been chosen to fill this high post, is the elder daughter of Lord and Lady Lansdowne. She is tall- and fair and dignified, fond of home life, and a devoted mother to her seven children.

A lady of the bedchamber to either a Queen Regnant or a Queen Consort must be a peeress. Her "wait" varies from three weeks to a month, according to the Queen's convenience. And whether she is at her own home in London or staying at Windsor Castle she must always hold herseli in readiness and consider her time as entirely at her Royal lady's disposal. She would be in attendance on the Queen at balls, dinners, wediings, or any other.formal entertainment, and, of course, at all State ceremonials.

Extra ladies of the bedchamber are appointed according to the Royal pleasure, but they have no salary and no fixed "waits" in attendance. Ladies who take office as women of the bedchamber must have rank, but they need not be peeresses. Their "waits" are arranged in the same way as those of ladies-in-waiting. Maids of honour are usually the ladies youngest in age in the Queen's household. They must be either the daughters of viscounts or barons, or else the grand-daughters of peers. The daughters of dukes, marquises, and earls are of too high rank for the position. , Maids of honour do duty in couples The time of waiting is four weeks, and each maid is in attendance for that period about;three times in the ;ourse of twelve months. When the Court is in London the maids of honour reside in their own homes, and not at Buckingham Palace, but as in the case of the other Court ladies, a Royal carriage is sent to convey them to and from the scene of action. Maids of honour receive much kindless from their Royal lady, but a few wise rules are made which, needless to say, are carefully respected. "Picture" hats and an outre style of iress are not allowed, and a maid' of aonour while on duty may not play sards for money or go out alone on foot in the streets of London. A maid of honour is expected to De clever and accomplished. She must be a good linguist, talk well, and be a practised reader aloud. Also she should be bright, quick., and obliging, and possess the politeness af Kings—punctuality. "Gentlewoman."