Who is Lady Susan Hussey and what is a lady in waiting?

Lady Susan Hussey has quit her role at Buckingham Palace after she asked a charity founder where she “really came from” during a reception hosted by the Queen Consort.

Ngozi Fulani, the chief executive of Sistah Space and a prominent black advocate for survivors of domestic abuse, described the exchange as a “violation”.

Lady Hussey served as Queen Elizabeth’s lady in waiting for more than 60 years and was appointed following the birth of Prince Andrew in 1960.

The 83-year-old was reportedly originally employed to deal with the Queen’s correspondence, but soon became a key trusted figure within the royal household.

In her role, she would help the monarch with her daily activities, and while her presence was not largely reported on, she was often spotted in the background of key royal engagements.

She is also Prince William’s godmother, and was the only person to accompany the Queen to the funeral of Prince Philip in April 2021.

Only 30 mourners were allowed to attend the service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle due to COVID restrictions.

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The “number one head girl’ of the royal household, as she was reportedly known, was also one of around 20 key staff members who were part of the Windsor Castle bubble during the pandemic.

Daughter of Geoffrey Waldegrave, the 12th Earl Waldegrave and Mary Hermione, Countess Waldegrave, Lady Hussey was married to the late BBC chairman Marmaduke Lord Hussey, who died in 2006.

Lord Hussey has recently been depicted in the hit Netflix drama The Crown, and was known for being among those who opposed the broadcasting of Princess Diana’s Panorama interview with Martin Bashir.

Lady Hussey is also a sister of the former Tory Cabinet minister William Waldegrave.

She has two children and her daughter Lady Katharine Brooke has followed in her footsteps by serving as a companion to the Queen Consort, Camilla.

In 2013, Lady Hussey was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen – the highest rank personally granted by the sovereign.

Following the Queen’s death, she was appointed the role of lady of the household to help King Charles at formal occasions.

What is a lady in waiting?

A lady in waiting is a woman attending a female member of the Royal Family, and is usually responsible for accompanying them on public engagements and helping them complete tasks.

The role is not typically paid, and it has been reported that Lady Hussey was not given a salary during her time in the position, instead serving the Queen out of loyalty.

The Queen had at least five ladies in waiting during her reign, including Lady Hussey.

The ladies in waiting were considered the unsung members of the late Queen’s household and were personally chosen by the monarch.

Does the Queen Consort have ladies in waiting?

After the Queen died, King Charles’s wife, Camilla, became Queen Consort, and in her role she decided to have six companions instead of ladies in waiting.

In the position, the women are tasked with supporting her as she carries out her official and state duties.

Camilla’s companions have been announced as her friends:
• Sarah Troughton
• Jane von Westenholz, mother of the woman who introduced Prince Harry to Meghan Markle
• Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, an interior designer
• Lady Katharine Brooke
• Baroness Carlyn Chisholm, a non-affiliated peer
• Lady Sarah Keswick, whose husband, Sir Chips Keswick, retired as Arsenal chairman in 2020

It is believed the women will have similar responsibilities as the Queen’s ladies in waiting, who have now been given the role of ladies of the household to assist the King instead.

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