When Camilla became Queen, she decided to end years of Royal tradition

When Camilla became Queen Consort in 2022, she decided to reduce her household and also to get rid of the ancient title of Lady-in-Waiting, ending hundreds of years of royal tradition. 

She has since replaced it with what she thinks is the more acceptable Queen's Companion. Same job – different title, with certain little differences.

The traditional Ladies-in-Waiting spent most of their time with the royal they served, providing entertainment and companionship. Their work included intimate duties, such as dressing and undressing their mistress, bathing her, and making her bed, which the present Companions are never asked to perform. 

It would be embarrassing for both Queen Camilla and her Companions.

But there is one particularly delicate task they do undertake. 

It is vital that before any royal visit the Companion goes on a ‘recce’ visit to spy out the land – for one special reason. She has to make sure there is a suitable lavatory available for her boss, and for her use only.

Lady Katharine 'Kate' Brooke, one of the six Companions, is well accustomed to this sort of duty, being brought up in the country where people are used to making the best of what’s there and convenient. 

So, there is no sense of embarrassment, even though the Royal Protection Officer (usually a female) joins them. 

On the big day, Camilla indicates her need for the loo and Lady Katharine discreetly guides her in the right direction and then stands guard outside the door, making sure nobody else tries to use the royal facilities. Before or after.

Exclusivity must be maintained at all costs. People are always looking for royal souvenirs. Lady Katharine is expert at performing this delicate little task and always carries it out without the slightest difficulty. And it’s all over in a couple of minutes.

Queen Camilla appointed six women to the position of Queen's Companion, all of whom are ladies married to landed gentry or living on large country estates.

They are either Lord Lieutenant of their respective county, or their husbands are. Lady Katharine, known as Kate both to her friends and to Camilla,  is one of the youngest, (she is the same generation as Camilla), but also the one who can call on the most experience having been associated with royalty longer than all the others. Her mother is The Lady Susan Hussey, the best known and longest serving Lady-in-Waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Lady Susan was at the Palace for more than 60 years and King Charles has paid her the compliment of inviting her to return to Buckingham Palace as a Lady of the Household. 

So, Kate has impeccable credentials for entry into Royal Household service. And also, in her mother, the best teacher she could have in the intricacies and formality of Palace life. She has grown up being surrounded by royalty or aristocracy, her maternal grandfather was the 12th Earl Waldegrave, and she can never remember a time when her mother did not know the late Queen. 

Queen Elizabeth II had a special nickname for Sue Hussey. She was the most senior of the Ladies-in-Waiting and Her Majesty called her ‘My Head Girl.’ As all the Ladies were known as Head Girls, Sue was ‘Head of Heads’. 

Sue Hussey was the most delightful woman to be with, as I found on many occasions. Always cheerful and invariably willing to help whenever she could. The Queen later said she could not manage ‘without Sue.’

Catherine’s father was the late Baron Marmaduke (Duke) Hussey, one time Chairman of the BBC, who served in the Grenadier Guards during the Second World War and was badly wounded at Anzio, which later allowed him to be repatriated from a Prisoner 0f War Camp, having had a leg amputated.

As Lady Katherine Hussey, Catherine married Sir Francis Brooke, 4th baronet, at Bath Abbey in April 1989. He was the late Queen’s representative at Ascot among his many other duties and another of those who are recognised among Royalty. So, his connections with the late Queen and her favourite sport, racing, guaranteed Sir Francis a place at Court which has been continued throughout this present Reign. The Brookes’ have three children, all grown up with successful careers of their own.

The Lady Companions do not receive a salary, after all, that would make them employees, but they are paid a nominal, modest stipend to cover their expenses: not that any of them need the money, of course. Even if they lost money through carrying out their duties, they would all willingly do them, simply for the honour. Just being there opens a lot of doors.

Working for the Royal Family, paid or unpaid, is considered a privilege, as long as you remember the difference in rank that can never be crossed.

Whenever The Lady Companions, including old friends like Lady Catherine Brooke and all the others, meet Queen Camilla for the first time that day, she will drop a curtsy, and when they speak. The first words out of the Lady Companion’s mouth will be ‘Your Majesty.’ Thereafter it’s ‘Ma’am’, to rhyme with jam. Neither sees any problem with these customs. They are simply tiny examples of the perfect manners shown by those who have been properly brought up - Royal or not.