What is a 'lady-in-waiting,' the royal role at the center of a U.K. racism scandal?
As the "racism row" scandal envelops the United Kingdom, those following along from across the pond might be wondering — what the heck is a "lady-in-waiting," anyway?
For starters, a bit of context: Lady Susan Hussey, late Queen Elizabeth II's longest-serving lady-in-waiting, generated quite a bit of backlash this week after asking U.K.-born Ngozi Fulani, a Black woman, something to the effect of "Where are you from? Where are your people from?" The interaction, which took place during a Buckingham Palace reception for activists working to end violence against women and girls, was "like an interrogation," Fulani said.
"I have to really question how this can happen in a space that's supposed to protect women against all kinds of violence," she continued, speaking with BBC Radio. "Although it's not physical violence — it is an abuse." Hussey has yet to comment on the incident, per The Washington Post, but the palace has said "the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused." She resigned from her post on Wednesday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But what exactly is the function of the role from which she resigned, you might ask? Well, a lady-in-waiting is "a woman attending a female member of the royal family," who is also often "responsible for accompanying them on public engagements and helping them complete tasks," Sky News reports. The role, which dates back to the Middle Ages, is honorary, suited for highborn women, and typically unpaid — Hussey, for her part, did not receive a salary and instead assisted the queen "out of loyalty," Sky News writes.
At least five ladies-in-waiting served the late monarch during her reign, with Hussey being "quite possibly" her favorite, the Post notes, considering she "held the title of 'Woman of the Bedchamber,' which effectively means she was the queen's right-hand woman."
Now that the queen has passed, however, her remaining ladies-in-waiting have become "ladies of the household," and will now assist King Charles III, Sky News notes. Otherwise, Camilla, the queen consort, has eschewed the conventional ladies-in-waiting tradition and opted to appoint five personal assistants dubbed the "queen's companions," instead.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published