The Royal Household, Courtiers, Advisers and Attendants

[Royal Smurfness]

Originally Posted by nascarlucy

I'm just curious. What exactly do these women do? Are they like personal assistants or do they have other duties?

I'm curious too.
I think those are the ladies who accompany HM on her travels and receive the famous handbag signs?

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by Royal Smurfness

I see that each of the Queen's ladies has a title - I suppose de Pass is a title too?

Does Prince Phillip have men who serve him?

De Pass is Phillipa's surname.
I imagine Prince Philip's has footmen and servants, but his don't follow him on engagements.

Originally Posted by Royal Smurfness

I think those are the ladies who accompany HM on her travels and receive the famous handbag signs?

Ladies-In-Waiting help the Queen in all aspects from collecting flowers to responding to "fan"mail.

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by nascarlucy

It seems like most of these positions at least the ones to Queen Elizabeth one would have to have a title to be considered for the position.

Having a title or noble/aristocratic background is most definitely not a pre-condition to become one of the Queen's ladies of the bedchamber. However, as I mentioned above, those ladies are usually chosen among friends and acquaintances - and most of Her Majesty's old friends come from noble background.

Originally Posted by nascarlucy

I'm just curious. What exactly do these women do? Are they like personal assistants or do they have other duties?

The Queen's Ladies of the Bedchamber have various roles, from personal assistants, to essentially secretaries. At least one of them accompanies the Queen on all her tours and visits, ensuring everything goes smoothly. They also often get inited to State Dinners and similar occassions, where they are seated with foreign dignitaries.

Originally Posted by Royal Smurfness

I see that each of the Queen's ladies has a title - I suppose de Pass is a title too? What are the equivalents for a king?

As I mentioned above, most of the Queen's ladies of the bedchamber have titles simply because Her Majesty's closest friends came from aristocratic/noble background.

De Pass is a surname, not name. Philippa de Pass is a close friend of Queen Elizabeth, while her husband, Robert de Pass was a close friend of Prince Philip's (he died in 2002). Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales were close friends with Philip de Pass (Philippa and Robert's son). Philippa de Pass is the daughter of Major Robert Cobbold and Patricia Gibson Watt. The de Pass family actually played a pretty important role in the early romance of Prince Charles and Diana. During a party at their house Diana was seated next to Charles; they talked and apparently liked each other, and soon afterwards, the Prince ask her on date.

Originally Posted by Royal Smurfness

Does Prince Philip have men who serve him?

Prince Philip has a Private Secretary (currently, Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell), an equerry (which is basically male equivalent of lady-in-waiting), as well as two temporary equerries.

[nascarlucy]

That would make sense. Thank you for the information.

[Lumutqueen]

Queen launches search for £50,000-a-year manager to oversee her £1.8m hospitality budget | Mail Online

[RoyalistRiley]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

Having a title or noble/aristocratic background is most definitely not a pre-condition to become one of the Queen's ladies of the bedchamber. However, as I mentioned above, those ladies are usually chosen among friends and acquaintances - and most of Her Majesty's old friends come from noble background.

Prince Philip has a Private Secretary (currently, Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell), an equerry (which is basically male equivalent of lady-in-waiting), as well as two temporary equerries.

So, if aristocratic blood is not a prerequisite does that mean in future the Duchess of Cambridge could appoint an old school-friend or something as a Lady-in-Waiting?

Also, if an Equerry is basically a male lady-in-waiting, why does the Queen have one?

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by RoyalistRiley

So, if aristocratic blood is not a prerequisite does that mean in future the Duchess of Cambridge could appoint an old school-friend or something as a Lady-in-Waiting?

Catherine can appoint an old school friend, I think it was rumoured her sister was in the 'running'. It just happens that HM's friends come from an aristocratic background.

Originally Posted by RoyalistRiley

Also, if an Equerry is basically a male lady-in-waiting, why does the Queen have one?

The Queen is special? I think it has to do with HM needing the staff to help her with everything she has to do.

[RoyalistRiley]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

The Queen is special? I think it has to do with HM needing the staff to help her with everything she has to do.

Apparently the Equerry does a lot of the behind the scenes work for engagements as well (http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHous...Equerries.aspx). I can remember when I saw the Queen all the bouquets of flowers were quickly sent in the direction of a slightly overwhelmed RAN officer who was Equerry on this particular tour via the Lady-in-Waiting and I think he had probably never seen so many flowers in his life!

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by RoyalistRiley

So, if aristocratic blood is not a prerequisite does that mean in future the Duchess of Cambridge could appoint an old school-friend or something as a Lady-in-Waiting?

Most definitely. For example, Sophie's lady-in-waiting is her old friend Sara Sienesi, with whom she shared a flat before marrying Prince Edward.

Originally Posted by RoyalistRiley

Also, if an Equerry is basically a male lady-in-waiting, why does the Queen have one?

If Her Majesty requires a male assistant for certain duties, she can't force the poor bloke to be known as "lady"-in-waiting, can she?

Strictly speaking, the male equivalent of lady-in-waiting is actually lord-in-waiting; it's a very rarely used but actual title. For example, David, 15th Earl of Westmorland was lord-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, while Francis Knollys, 1st Viscount Knollys was lord-in-waiting to Queen Mary.
Aide-de-camp or Equerry is simply close in meaning and responsibilities - a personal attendant to a senior (usually, male) royal.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

Aide-de-camp or Equerry is simply close in meaning and responsibilities - a personal attendant to a senior (usually, male) royal.

I don't think so considering that some of HM's aides-de-camp are HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duke of York HRH The Earl of Wessex, HRH The Duke of Kent along with Capt. Mark Philips and Commander Timother Laurence. Aide-de-camp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Normally an aide-de-camp is an assistant to a high ranking military officer but in the case of the Queen a number are the appointments listed above - all current.