The Duchess of Cornwall current events 8: July 10, 2007 - Sept 7, 2007

[Henri M.]

Interesting. The same construction is used at the Netherlands Court: Princess Máxima uses a coiffeur or beautician on the same basis as the Duchess of Cornwall. (She needs a better one. Where Camilla looks impeccable, Máxima's hairdo often looks ravaged).

I assume that Queen Elizabeth has, like Queen Beatrix, a coiffeur and/or beautician in their paid service.

In the beginning I thought Camilla should get rid of that Farrah Fawcett-hairdo. But now, a few years on, I'm so used to this bouffante hairdo that is oh-so Camilla. I can not imagine her with any other hairstyle.

[HRH Kerry]

$6,000 a month is kind of steep! However, to a millionaire that's probably equivalent to me spending $100.00 a month.

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by HRH Kerry

$6,000 a month is kind of steep! However, to a millionaire that's probably equivalent to me spending $100.00 a month.

Well, we common folks use a hairdresser once in two months, let us say.
The Duchess probably 5 times a week, if not almost every day (or even twice a day).



That makes her bill more understandable.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by milla Ca

AHN | Camilla's Locks To Be Maintained Full Time By Personal Hairdresser | August 1, 2007

yet another misleading headline, he can't be working for Camilla full time if he is dealing with other clients!

[muriel]

Does anybody know if Camilla has ladies-in-waiting?

[Avalon]

Originally Posted by muriel

Does anybody know if Camilla has ladies-in-waiting?

Yes, the Duchess of Cornwall does have Ladies-in-waiting. She has at least 4 of them (I'm certian of that), although I assume there must be more.

[love_cc]

But I don't think the duchess has formally apointed anyone as her ladies in waitings. From the annual reports, I find Amenda MacManus and Joy Camm as her assistants. I think they probabaly act as her ladies in Waiting from time to time. But I am not sure about Virginia Carington because she has got the position of Assistant Master of household. Who else can the candidates?

[muriel]

Does anybody know if the role of Lady in waiting is a paid role, and what it might involve?

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by muriel

Does anybody know if the role of Lady in waiting is a paid role, and what it might involve?

It varies from Court to Court: different names, different styles. Some Courts have abolished this function. Others still keep it in all splendour. As I'm a Dutchman I can give you the information with a Dutch eye:

In short you can say that a lady-in-waiting (this is the English term, in my country it is called Hofdame ("Dame of the Court") or Dame du Palais ("Dame of the Palace"). In French it is called Dame de Compagnie. In Belgium only Queen Fabiola has a real oldfashioned Lady in Waiting. Queen Paola gives various ladies for a day or an event the honour to accomoany her. These are called Eredame (Dame de Honneur), Lady of Honour. This is not the same as the British or Dutch Lady in Waiting.

These ladies are definitely no maids or servants. You could not insult them more.


In the Netherlands, but also in the United Kingdom, these use to be ladies of certain descent, with an excellent standing in society. Often it are noble or patrician (upper class) ladies who are "approved company to Her Majesty", so to say.

In the Netherlands the Hofdames and Dames du Palais are not paid. Their expenses for their functioning and representation are met by The Queen. So you need to be financially independent. It is seen as an utmost honour to be asked (you don't apply, you are 'asked') for this position. After all, after the family, you are the closest as possible to the Sovereign.

It is a very high position at the Court. In the Netherlands (and I assume in the United Kingdom it is comparable) the ladies do not belong to the regular staff (= cooks, footmen, maids) but are part of the 'Household Honorair", and are led by the Grootmeesteres (Grandmastress, in the United Kingdom: Mistress of the Robes) who only has one boss: The Queen.

By the way: I thought that the Duchess has no own Lady in Waiting. In the Netherlands Princess Máxima, Camilla's equivalent so to say, also has no own lady of waiting. Instead one of the Queen's ladies is "detached into the service of Her Royal Highness".


I don't know how many ladies there are in the United Kingom. In the Netherlands there are 14 of them:
1 Grootmeesteres (Mistress of the Robes)
6 Hofdames (Ladies in Waiting)
3 Dames du Palais Honoraire (Ladies of the Bedchamber Honoraire*)
4 Hofdames Honoraire (Ladies in Waiting Honoraire*)
Probably this is a comparable figure in the United Kingdom. * Honoraire = former ladies who are no longer in the regular service but can still be requested for major events.

Hofdames used to be unmarried ladies, while Dames du Palais were married ladies. Now there is in fact no real difference: Dames du Palais now are senior Hofdames with a long record. They have a weekly shift, so that means once in the 5 à 6 weeks they are on duty. Their high position is illustrated by the fact that they have their own appartments inside the palace, do receive their own guests in their salons and travel together with The Queen, usually next to her (since Queen Beatrix is a widow, she has no accompany from her spouse).

The Grootmeesteres used to give her own New Year's reception for the Corps Diplomatique. But this has been abolished. The Grootmeesteres, the Hofdames and the Dames du Palais however do organize diners and receptions and act as the eyes and ears of The Queen. They also represent The Queen at weddings and funerals of important figures and keep in touch with the aristocracy.

I hope this gave enough insight.

[susan alicia]

It is a lot more formal in GB, I read for instance that the niece of Lord Kitchener, Emma Joy Kitchener lady in waiting is to Princess Michael of Kent (she is also the wife of actor Jullian Fellowes).
None of the Dutch princesses have ladies in waiting except Maxima.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by muriel

Does anybody know if the role of Lady in waiting is a paid role, and what it might involve?

It is an unpaid role, with an allowance being given for clothing, if required. Most of the LiW are financially secure either through birth or marriage.

I understood that Camilla has 2 secretarial assistants.

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by susan alicia

It is a lot more formal in GB, I read for instance that the niece of Lord Kitchener, Emma Joy Kitchener lady in waiting is to Princess Michael of Kent (she is also the wife of actor Jullian Fellowes).
None of the Dutch princesses have ladies in waiting except Maxima.

The other Dutch Princesses do hardly have a full enough public and social agenda to have a Hofdame. They have a very lowkey role. But when they have a public event, you can also see a hofdame in their slipstream, next to the aide-de-camp, the secretary and the two or three bodyguards.

[muriel]

Thank you all very much for your very informative replies

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Warren

Andrew was more than likely at the British Open golf championships in Scotland. It would take more than a sister-in-law's 60th to make him miss a British Open!

I thought maybe he was in St. Tropez with his favorite trio, but the British Open golf sounds as likely if not more so.

[Elspeth]

I've moved the derail about the survey showing that some expats don't want Camilla to be Queeen to part 3 of the Will Charles Ever Reign? thread; feel free to continue that conversation over there. And please let's get this thread back on topic.

Elspeth

British Royals moderator

[cde]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...70&ito=newsnow

Camilla came in second in Scottish Roses competition for flower arranging. I heard she was good. I would love to see some of her arrangements

Can anyone find pictures of the winning arrrangements?

[hornsen]

She really must be a talent. Prince Charles mentioned it in his last book. Would love to see her creations.

[love_cc]

Me too. I hope that we can see her creations as well. Camilla often brings us some new surprises. I find her a very delightful person.