The Queen Consort is set to follow her husband's lead by slimming down her own entourage during the early days of King Charles III's reign. A fixture of Queen Elizabeth II's reign was her ladies-in-waiting but, the Mirror reports, these will have no place in the new monarchy.
Camilla is set to dispense of the centuries-old tradition of official companions following her new title, which was gained when husband Charles became King. The 75-year-old sees a smaller royal staff as the way forward to move with the times. Her view mirrors that of the new sovereign, who is keen for a slimmed down and more modern monarchy.
Historically, a lady-in-waiting was a personal assistant selected to serve a female senior royal. The women, who had been by Her Majesty's side for more than 60 years, had grown to become more than royal staff: they were close companions and trusted friends.
Queen Elizabeth II hand-picked her tightly-knit team of dedicated women to help her with her daily demands. Some picked out her outfits and helped her bathe and dress, while others put the Queen's busy diary of official engagements together, arranging private family events while dealing with everything in between.
Marlene Koenig, a historian who has studied the Royal Family for several years, said: "There are some positions that may no longer be filled. You wonder if the women. . . will use ladies-in-waiting as the Queen did. She's never had, even as the Duchess of Cornwall, an official lady-in-waiting."
Camilla had a former secretary, Angela MacManus, who filled the role of lady-in-waiting but wasn't officially named. Queen Elizabeth, however, appointed nine ladies-in-waiting from 1953 to 2017, who were mostly women from aristocratic families.
Historically, ladies-in-waiting did not get paid and were unable to quit or retire from the position. They therefore committed to serve the Queen for her lifetime.
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