It was in the summer of 2012 when Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. The main festivities in London at the beginning of June had to take place without her husband Prince Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh was hospitalized with a urinary tract infection. Sitting next to Elizabeth II in the Rolls-Royce on the way to St. Paul's Cathedral was not Prince Philip as planned, but a woman completely unknown even to many Britons: Diana Maxwell. It was a special honor that she received with it. However, Lady Farnham had often been seen at the Queen's side before and again and again afterwards: She was one of Her Majesty's ladies-in-waiting for 44 years, and at the same time one of her closest confidants.
Elisabeth II lost three long-term companions last year: Prince Philip died in April at the age of 99. The two had been married since 1947. At the beginning of December, the Duchess of Grafton, who had been appointed maid-in-waiting even before Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 and in 1967 had been appointed chief chamberlain, the "Mistress of the Robes", died. Ann Fortune FitzRoy was 101 years old. On December 29th, Lady Farnham died at the age of 90. Diana Marion Gunnis had been married to Barry Maxwell, the twelfth Baron Farnham, since 1959. He died in 2001.
Elizabeth II temporarily had nine ladies-in-waiting.
Her daily duties include keeping the queen's cloakroom and correspondence.
As unpaid workers, they are also their society ladies, who not only accompany the monarch to official appointments and on trips, but also plan and organize them for her.
Traditionally, they come from noble and particularly wealthy families, for whom an expense allowance is sufficient to compensate for their services.
Court ladies are appointed for life; premature resignation from the honorable office is not provided.