One of QMII's four LiWs is retiring from duty.
https://www.bt.dk/royale/dronningen-udnaevner-ny-hofdame
It is Ane Vibeke Foss, who after many years has requested being relieved of her duties. (*)
Ane Vibeke Foss is 80 years old and a close personal friend of QMII since their youth.
Replacing her from 1. July is Henriette Obel, chamberlain.
Henriette Obel has had a very distinguished career in private businesses.
She joins the three other LiWs QMII has, Annette de Scheel (nobility), Annelise Wern (nobility) and Jette Nordam.
A Lady in Waiting is a personal assistant that is even more personal, than a hired personal assistant. Apart from assisting the Queen in various matters on duty and in sorting through the more personal letters to QMII a LiW is also a close confidante with an intimate knowledge of the royal lady they serve, they have to in order to help. That can be anything from acquiring very personal sanitary articles to picking up the signals when their royal lady needs to be "rescued" from a bore. A LiW will often also go to a place that will have a longer royal visit, to ensure that say personal facilities are in place and contain what is required, that bouquets and the attire of their lay will match and a multitude of other personal matters.
A LiW is expected to always be discreetly presentable. She must never outshine her lady, like the bodyguards, always close but unnoticed.
A LiW does not resign or get fired. They either ask to be relieved of their duties. Or if having made a transgression, they are dismissed.
That's because a LiW is not a paid member of the staff, and as such is outside the staff-hierarchy.
A LiW is requested to serve her lady/Monarch and it is an honor, privilege and duty to serve. One certainly does not get paid as if one was a mere maid!
Apart from the honor (also to your family, because you are not chosen if your family has a history of being controversial or having done shady things) the job contains a good deal of perks and privileges. You are sure to retire with stars and orders and a personal reputation and integrity that is considered above reproach. - And if you are married to such an esteemed being, it rubs off on you as well...
Traditionally it was members of the nobility only who served as Ladies in Waiting, but today that is no longer a requirement, even though most are still from noble families.
Today they are selected for their high integrity, personal relationship with their lady and for high intelligence and education, often in leadership positions, giving them added authority when needed.
Follow up.
Here is a photo of Henriette Obel.
https://www.bt.dk/royale/dronningen-udnaevner-ny-hofdame
She is very well educated business women, who has lived for a number of years in England with her husband, who was an investor there.
Her mother-in-law, Ulla Obel, is a personal friend of QMII and a former LiW herself.
The family is friends with both QMII and M&F.
It's a very discreet family. It's hard to fidn photos of the family members and even photos of the place they live, Haxholm Estate, in Jutland are hard to find.
https://www.kroneborg.dk/images/show_images/54/2017/5/hagsholm---haxholm_1494786505727.png
The estate is from the 1500s, but the current main building is from 1909. It has been owned by the Obel family since 1926.
- I wonder if she has daughters? In that case they might be of interest to Mary when she becomes queen.
This is the ebst I could find: