Queen turns to mother of Meghan’s matchmaker

Lady von Westenholz, whose daughter introduced the Duke and Duchess, becomes a ‘Companion’

THE mother of the socialite who first introduced the Duke of Sussex to Meghan Markle has been appointed as one of the six Queen’s Companions to accompany Her Majesty on key occasions.

Lady von Westenholz, who with the other Companions will perform a similar role to the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Ladies in Waiting, is the mother of the Duke’s childhood friend Violet von Westenholz. It was Violet who reportedly decided that the Duke would be a perfect fit for the American actress.

Her father, Lord von Westenholz, is a former Olympic skier and friend of King Charles III, who with his wife Jane has led the restoration of Dumfries House, a personal project of the Monarch.

Ms von Westenholz, public relations director for Ralph Lauren, was working with Ms Markle at the end of June 2017, a few days before the actress’s blind date with the Duke.

Ms von Westenholz told The Telegraph: “It’s a great story and I am sure they are going to be very happy together. I am just happy they are really happy. They are great together.” Lady von Westenholz, who has been a close friend of the Queen for many years, will support her key official and State duties, in addition to her Private Secretary and Deputy Private Secretary.

This role will also be carried out by the five others: Sarah Troughton; the Marchioness of Lansdowne; Lady Sarah Keswick; Lady (Katharine) Brooke and Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen.

Their duty will be less extensive than that of Ladies in Waiting as they will not deal with the Queen’s correspondence and will be in attendance less regularly.

Mrs Troughton is the Lord Lieutenant

of Wiltshire, the first woman to hold the position since the 16th century. She is a second cousin of King Charles and for 10 years was lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Kent. Lady Sarah is the wife of Sir Chips Keswick, a merchant banker who was chairman of Arsenal FC from June 2013 until May 2020. She was seen at events with the Duchess of Cornwall before she became Queen.

Lady Lansdowne is an interior designer who set up her studio, Fiona Shelburne, over 32 years ago and with her husband Charlie, the 9th Marquis of Lansdowne, has restored his family home Bowood House, in Wiltshire.

Lady Brooke is married to Sir Francis Brooke, the King’s representative at Ascot. Lady Chisholm sits in the House of Lords as a Conservative peer.

The Queen has also appointed a new full-time Equerry, Maj Ollie Plunket, of The Rifles. Her Majesty is Colonel-inChief of The Rifles and Maj Plunket is the first Equerry appointed directly to Her Majesty the Queen Consort.

Buckingham Palace said that Her late Majesty’s Ladies-in-Waiting, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley, Dame Mary Morrison and Dame Annabel Whitehead will continue to assist the King in hosting formal occasions. They will be known as Ladies of the Household.

Some of the Queen’s Companions will be in attendance for the first time at Her Majesty’s Violence Against Women and Girls reception at the

palace on Tuesday.