The Queen Consort has scrapped the position of lady-in-waiting at Buckingham Palace, breaking with centuries of tradition.
Camilla has taken the step to tear up the role and replace it with an entirely new one.
Instead of being supported by ladies-in-waiting when carrying out her official duties, the 75-year-old will instead have six Queen’s companions.
The ladies-in-waiting combined the role of companion, advisor and secretary to the Queen and would accompany the monarch on royal trips and tours.
But as a sign of Camilla’s new approach to royal life, she has replaced the aides in her own fashion.
Last night the Palace announced the six Queen’s companions as trusted friends of Camilla.
They were named as Sarah Troughton, Jane von Westenholz and Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, who is a professional interior designer, Lady Katharine Brooke and Baroness Carlyn Chisholm, who is now a non-affiliated peer, and Camilla’s close friend Lady Sarah Keswick, whose husband, Sir Chips Keswick, retired as Arsenal chairman in 2020 after 15 years on the board.
They will reportedly all receive a nominal fee to cover their expenses, as ladies-in-waiting did.
Some of the Queen’s companions will appear for the first time publicly at a Violence against Women and Girls reception at Buckingham Palace, on Tuesday.
A senior royal source told The Sunday Times: “The Queen Consort did not want or need ladies-in-waiting and the Queen’s companions will have a different role.
“They are there to provide Her Majesty with support and company. At the end of a very busy day, it is nice to have a longstanding friend beside you.”
The women are known to be in Camilla and Charles’ inner circle and believed to be amongst her oldest and most trusted friends.
Lady Lansdowne is the chatelaine of Bowood House in Wiltshire - close to Camilla's private country estate.
While Lady Brooke - daughter of Lady Susan Hussey, who is a former lady-in-waiting of the late Queen - is a leading figure in horse racing.
Sarah Troughton, 69, is the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire - the first woman to hold the post since its creation almost 500 years ago. She is also the late Queen's cousin.
Baroness Chisholm previously represented the Conservatives in the House of Lords and used to go fox hunting with Charles and Camilla.
The new hires didn’t end there and the Queen Consort hired her first dedicated equerry, a male advisor playing the same role.
Major Ollie Plunket, of The Rifles, has been appointed Camilla's equerry. It is believed his role is to look after her diary and accompany her at official events.
It is believed the work of the Queen's companions will be similar to, but not as extensive as, that carried out by the Queen's ladies-in-waiting.
It is thought they are likely to be in attendance less regularly than the Queen's ladies-in-waiting were and, on certain occasions, may attend an engagement instead of a private secretary or a deputy private secretary.
There is still a role for the ladies-in-waiting who worked for the Queen.
Lady Susan Hussey, Mary Morrison and Dame Annabel Whitehead will now be known as ladies of the household.
They continue to assist the King in hosting formal occasions at Buckingham Palace, as they have done recently.
