[3] After the introduction of the Second Empire and the marriage of Emperor Napoleon III to Eugénie de Montijo, Claire Emilie was appointed lady-in-waiting (dame du Palais) to the new empress in 1853, and would continue to serve until 1870.

[4] The ladies-in-waiting consisted of: Those of the dame du Palais rank were selected among the acquaintances to Eugénie prior to her marriage, and who alternated in pairs fulfilling the daily duties.

Claire was a social success in the Parisian high society life, and was described as a beauty with an "ever lovely expression"[5] and as "the most pleasant woman in Paris".

She belongs to the ladies-in-waiting depicted with Eugenie in the famous painting Empress Eugénie Surrounded by her Ladies in Waiting by Franz Xaver Winterhalter from 1855.

Her daughter, Carmen Aguado, was also subject of a portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter.