Lady of the Bedchamber

In the Middle Ages, Margaret of France is noted to have had seven ladies of the bedchamber: the three married ones were called dominæ and the four unmarried ones were known as maids of honour.

[3] The post of a lady of the bedchamber was considered prestigious, and the appointments have therefore been subjected to controversies.

In 1839, concerns that Queen Victoria was determined to surround herself with wives of Whig politicians led to the Bedchamber crisis, preventing the installation of a Tory government under Robert Peel.

This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the English royal household.

[4] Catherine of Braganza was Queen Consort to Charles II of England Mary of Modena was Queen Consort to James II of England Caroline of Ansbach was Queen Consort to George II of Great Britain[9][10] Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen Consort to King George III of Great Britain[11] Caroline of Brunswick was the wife of George, Prince of Wales, Prince Regent and from 1820 Queen Consort to George IV of the United Kingdom.

The Countess of Airlie returns to Buckingham Palace in a carriage in 2008, having attended the State Opening of Parliament in her capacity as Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II (a position she had held since 1973).
Lucy Hay, Countess of Carlisle , Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Henrietta Maria.