The most loyal woman to ever pledge her service to Queen Elizabeth II joined the Royal Family and nation to pay their respects to Her Majesty today.
Her closest aide was not far from her coffin today as it proceeded from Westminster Hall to Windsor Castle today, where she will be buried this evening alongside her husband Prince Philip.
Lady Susan Hussey, now 83, was considered the Queen's close friend and confidante, and was affectionately referred to as her ‘number one head girl’ - after spending 60 years right by her side.
Despite being unpaid for her work, the lady-in-waiting took on the responsibility for a variety of roles: from picking outfits and helping her bathe and dress, to responding to letters or accompanying her on outings. In fact, the role is so prestigious that they almost develop their own, coded language to communicate with the monarch discretely.
Lady Susan was considered as more than just a member of staff to the royal family, as she supported the late monarch until her final days. She was also by her side for the procession; watching the Queen’s coffin be taken from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey today.
She was among the other seven women lined up inside Westminster Hall who paid their respects to their beloved boss, including Lady Susan Hussey, Dame Mary Morrison, Lady Elizabeth Leeming, Susan Rhodes, and Dame Annabel Whitehead.
After being appointed as the Woman of the Bedchamber in 1960, her role was initially to respond to letters following the birth of Prince Andrew. However, soon after that role, she became invaluable.
During her many roles as lady-in-waiting, she was trusted with recommending Tiggy Legge-Bourke as nanny to future king Prince William and his brother Harry. And, she was also given the prestigious title of one of the godmothers to of the Duke of Cambridge.
She also had the responsibility of assisting Prime Ministers on their arrival to the palace, familiarising Princess Diana to palace life and keeping Pippa Middleton company on a trip to church in Sandringham in 2017.
It has been said that the Queen personally asked for Lady Susan to join her in the car to the Sovereign’s Entrance of Windsor Castle to the Galilee Porch of St George’s Chapel, as the monarch prepared to say her final farewell to Prince Philip - who died last year in April.
And this year, she was spotted alongside the Monarch during her Trooping the Colour ceremonial event, as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Following the long reigning monarch's death, it has been reported that some of her former ladies-in-waiting are expected to retire immediately. This is due to their own advancing years.
However, it has been claimed that a few may step in to help the Queen Consort, Camilla, transition into her new duties.
A palace source said: "Everyone has a girl crush on the ladies-in-waiting.
"They are fun, formidable — and know absolutely everything. Fascinating and terrifying in equal measure.
"They are utterly fabulous and have been such loyal servants to Her Majesty."
