Ladies-in-waiting swapped by Queen for modern staff

THE QUEEN is to scrap the centuriesold tradition of ladies-in-waiting in favour of a smaller, more modern staff.

Queen Elizabeth II had around seven devoted ladies-in-waiting at the time of her death, some of whom had been by her side for more than 60 years.

They acted as personal assistants and were often close friends, helping with day-to-day tasks such as correspondence, while also accompanying her on royal tours and visits.

The Queen will part with tradition by getting rid of the roles, which are unpaid, to be “more with the times”.

The 75-year-old’s existing private secretaries will take on the traditional duties of the late Queen’s official companions, in what has been described as a “two-for-the-price-of-one” deal.

The Queen is said to have many “good and decent friends” around the country whom she can call on to help her in carrying out her duties when needed.

A royal source told the Daily Mail: “When she got married and set up her own office for the first time she got two brilliant private secretaries, Amanda Macmanus and Joy Camm. Not only did they arrange all her engagements and projects, but they also acted as ladies-in-waiting if needed, accompanying her on official duties, collecting bouquets of flowers and the like. No one stands on ceremony in her office, everyone mucks in.”

The source added: “The Queen consort will do things a little differently. She currently has two private secretaries who do some of those traditional duties anyway.

“And she has quite a lot of good and

‘She has a lot of chums in London and Scotland, as well as in the country. It’s more with the times’

decent friends around her whom she can call on, as and when is necessary, to support her.

“I suspect she’ll dip into her close circle of friends, maybe geographically.

“She has a lot of chums in London and Scotland, as well as in the country, too. She thinks it’s more with the times.”

After the “very sad” death last year of Lady Farnham, one of Queen Elizabeth’s long-standing ladies-in-waiting, a royal source described the roles as “dear friends who supported the Queen on official duties”.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.