As the Princess of Wales, married to the heir to the throne, Prince William, Princess Kate is likely to become Queen one day.
Historically, Kings and Queens have been supported by large, close-knit teams that provide administrative assistance and manage correspondence.
For Queens, this support traditionally included ladies-in-waiting who assisted with various tasks. The Mistress of the Robes managed the Queen’s wardrobe and coordinated the duties of other ladies-in-waiting, while the Women of the Bedchamber helped the Queen dress, undress, and bathe. These roles were lifelong and unpaid.
When Queen Camilla became Queen Consort in September 2022, she modernized this tradition by introducing a new team called the “Queen’s companions.” Unlike ladies-in-waiting, these companions assist at public events without handling correspondence and administration, reflecting Charles and Camilla’s streamlined monarchy.
Camilla’s six trusted companions are Sarah Troughton, Jane von Westenholz, Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, Lady Katharine Brooke, Baroness Carlyn Chisholm, and Lady Sarah Keswick.
The question remains: could Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, 40, become her lady-in-waiting in the future? The chances are slim. It’s more likely that Kate will follow Queen Camilla’s example and opt for a small group of “Companions.”
Danielle Stacey explains, “The Princess of Wales’s sister, Pippa Matthews, would be a fitting choice as one of Kate’s Queen’s Companions, and I think like Camilla, she will use this modern terminology rather than ladies-in-waiting.
“Pippa has been there to support Kate through some of the biggest moments in her life – including her role as maid of honor at the royal wedding. The work that modern Queen’s Companions carry out is not as extensive as it once was, and on certain occasions, they may attend an engagement instead of a private secretary or a deputy private secretary, as we have seen with Queen Camilla.”
Kate and Pippa share an incredibly close bond, having attended Marlborough College together, and now live just a short drive from one another. This strong relationship makes Pippa a prime candidate for the role of a modern companion to Kate.
