The Dame du Palais (French pronunciation: [dam dy palɛ], lit.
It was a title of a lady-in-waiting holding the official position of personal attendant on a female member of the French royal family.
The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts (Dutch: Dames du Palais; English: Lady of the Bedchamber; German: Hofstaatsdame or Palatsdame; Italian: Dame di Corte; Russian: Hofdame or Statsdame; Spanish: Dueña de honor; Swedish: Statsfru).
From 1523, the group of 'Dame', (married) ladies-in-waiting who attended the court as companions of the queen had the formal title Dame d'honneur ('Lady of Honour', commonly only 'Dame'), hence the title 'Première dame d'honneur' ('First lady of honour') to distinguish between the principal lady-in-waiting and the group of remaining common (married) ladies-in-waiting.
It was revived during the First Empire, with the same original position as the title of a married lady-in-waiting below the 'Première dame d'honneur'.
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Dame du Palais to the Queen or Empress of France.