Court Ladies

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 355, 16 May 1928, Page 4

Court Ladies

QUEEN’S MAID OF HONOUR Treasured Symbols of Office The establishment of Maids of Honour to attend on the * Queen is generally attributed to a French Queen, Anne of Brittany wife of Charles VIII., in the latter part of the 15th century. had in her household several girls of high rank in whom she took a special interest. It is also said, however, that Margaret of Austria in 1484 had maidens about her in a similar capacity.

IN feudal days girls of noble family were, like youths of high rank, sent to attend upon the Sovereign to complete their education and to be instructed in good manners and deportment. Therefore the post of lady-in-waiting is one of the oldest offices held in history. Perhaps the most romantic figures were the maidens attendant upon Mary Queen of Scots. These ladies all had the same name as the Queen, and were chosen for their beauty. It is said they took a vow that none would marry until her Sovereign chose a consort to share the throne of Scotland, and each kept her vow. Queen Eliza-

beth was always supposed to h© angry when her ir aids left her tor riage. r The ladies of th ? court to-day - of Mistress of the Robes. of the Bedchamber. Women ofn? Bedchamber. and Maids of HonJu? Queen Mary has four Ladies ot£l Bedchamber, four extra Ladies of 2? Bedchamber, six Women of the chamber, and one Maid of Hob 1 ' the Hon. Jean Hamilton-Bruce!%2i has succeeded Miss Lawley. who *2 recently married to Colonel T 1 * Gibbs. M.P. Four of the W O w!J the Bedchamber act as private sen*. taries to the Queen.