Pepa Pollet

She was the principal lady's maid and treasurer to the empress of France, Eugénie de Montijo.

She was a controversial figure as the personal favorite and influential confidante of the empress, and sometimes accused of misusing her influence.

When Eugenie married Napoleon III in 1853, Pollet was appointed treasurer to the empress.

Pollet was described as a diminutive and pale woman with bad health, timid but irritable temper and with a strong Spanish accent, who was fiercely loyal to the empress.

However, the English climate was not good for her health, so she returned to France, where she died not long after her arrival.