The mistress of the robes was the senior lady in the

Royal Household of the United Kingdom The Royal Households of the United Kingdom are the collective departments that support members of the British royal family. Many members of the royal family who undertake public duties have separate households. They vary considerably in size, ...

. Formerly responsible for the queen consort's/regnant's clothes and jewellery (as the name implies), the post had the responsibility for arranging the rota of attendance of the

ladies-in-waiting A lady-in-waiting or court lady is a female personal assistant at a court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman but of lower rank than the woman to whom sh ...

on the queen, along with various duties at state ceremonies. In modern times, the mistress of the robes was almost always a

duchess Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranked ...

. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this role often overlapped with or was replaced as first lady of the bedchamber. In the past, whenever the queen was a

queen regnant A queen regnant (plural: queens regnant) is a female monarch, equivalent in rank and title to a king, who reigns ''suo jure'' (in her own right) over a realm known as a "kingdom"; as opposed to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reignin ...

rather than a queen consort, the mistress of the robes was a political appointment, changing with the government. However, this has not been the case since the death of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

in 1901, and Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

had only had two mistresses of the robes in more than seventy years' reign.

Queens dowager A queen dowager or dowager queen (compare: princess dowager or dowager princess) is a title or status generally held by the widow of a king. In the case of the widow of an emperor, the title of empress dowager is used. Its full meaning is clear ...

have their own mistresses of the robes, and in the 18th century

princesses of Wales Princess of Wales (Welsh: ''Tywysoges Cymru'') is a courtesy title used since the 14th century by the wife of the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. The current title-holder is Catherine (née Middleton). The title was firs ...

had one too.

Mistress of the robes to Mary I, 1553–1558

*1553–1558: Susan Clarencieux G. A. Bergenroth, P. De Gayangos, and others, ''Calendar of letters, despatches, and state papers, relating to the negotiations between England and Spain'', 13 vols., (1862–1954); M. A. S. Hume, ''Calendar of letters and state papers, relating to English affairs, preserved in the archives of Simancas'', 4 vols., (1892–9)

Mistress of the robes to Elizabeth I, 1558–1603

*1559/1562–1603: Dorothy, Lady Stafford

Mistress of the robes to Anne of Denmark, 1603–1619

*1603–1619: Audrey (Etheldreda), Lady Walsingham

Mistress of the robes to Henrietta Maria of France, 1625–1669

* 1626–1652:

Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh Susan Feilding, Countess of Denbigh (née Villiers; 1583–1652), was an English courtier. She was First Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Henrietta Maria in 1626–1652. Life Born Susan Villiers, she was the youngest daughter of Sir Georg ...

(also called First Lady of the Bedchamber) * 1653–1669: Elizabeth Fielding Boyle, Countess of Guilford

Mistress of the robes to Catherine of Braganza, 1662–1692

* 1660–1692: Position vacant, replaced by a First Lady of the Bedchamber

Mistress of the robes to Mary of Modena, 1673–1688

* 1673–1688: Position vacant, replaced by a First Lady of the Bedchamber

Mistress of the robes to Mary II, 1688–1694

* 1688–1694: Lady Elizabeth Butler, Countess of Derby

Mistresses of the robes to Anne, Queen of Great Britain, 1704–1714

*1704–1710:

Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, Princess of Mindelheim, Countess of Nellenburg (née Jenyns, spelt Jennings in most modern references; 5 June 1660 (Old Style) – 18 October 1744), was an English courtier who rose to be one of th ...

*1710–1714:

Elizabeth Seymour, Duchess of Somerset Elizabeth Seymour, Duchess of Somerset and ''suo jure'' Baroness Percy (26 January 1667 – 23/24 November 1722) was an English heiress. She was styled Lady Elizabeth Percy between 1667 and 1679, Countess of Ogle between 1679 and 1681, Lady E ...

Mistresses of the robes to Caroline of Ansbach, 1714–1737

*1714–1717:

Diana Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans Diana Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans (c. 1679–15 January 1742), born Lady Diana de Vere, was a British courtier. She was Mistress of the Robes to Caroline, Princess of Wales from 1714 to 1717. She was one of the Hampton Court Beauties o ...

*1717–1723: Possibly vacant *1723–1731:

Elizabeth Sackville, Duchess of Dorset Elizabeth Sackville, Duchess of Dorset (c. 1689 – 12 June 1768), formerly Elizabeth Colyear, was a British court official and noble, the wife of Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset. She was the daughter of Lieutenant-General Walter Colyear (wh ...

*1731–1735:

Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk Henrietta Howard (born Henrietta Hobart; 168926 July 1767) was a mistress of King George II of Great Britain and the sister of John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire. Biography Henrietta was one of three daughters of Sir Henry Hobart, 4th ...

(Dowager Countess of Suffolk from 1733)Institute of Historical Research
/ref> *1735–1737: Position vacant

Mistresses of the robes to Augusta of Saxe-Gotha 1736–1763

*1736–1745:

Lady Archibald Hamilton Jane, Lady Archibald Hamilton (née Lady Jane Hamilton) (before 1704 – 6 December 1753, Paris) was a British noblewoman. She was the fifth child and third daughter of James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn (d. 1734) and Elizabeth Reading, daughter ...

*1745–1747: Position vacant *1747–1763:

Grace Sackville, Countess of Middlesex Grace Sackville, Countess of Middlesex (1723 – 10 May 1763), formerly the Hon. Grace Boyle, was the wife of Charles Sackville, Earl of Middlesex and later 2nd Duke of Dorset. Grace was born in London, the daughter and sole heir of Richard ...

Mistress of the robes to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1761–1818

*1761–1793:

Mary Bertie, Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven Mary Bertie, Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven (died 19 October 1793), formerly Mary Panton, was the second wife of Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. She was the daughter of Thomas Panton of Newmarket (1697-1782), who was an eq ...

(Dowager Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven from 1778) *1793–1818: Elizabeth Thynne, Marchioness of Bath (Dowager Marchioness of Bath from 1796)

Mistress of the robes to Caroline of Brunswick 1795–1821

*1795–1808:

Anne Townshend, Marchioness Townshend Anne Townshend, Marchioness Townshend (c.1752 – 29 March 1819), formerly Anne Montgomery, was the second wife of George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend, previously Viscount Townshend. She was the daughter of Sir William Montgomery, 1st ...

*1808–1817:

Catherine Douglas, Baroness Glenbervie Catherine Douglas, Baroness Glenbervie (16 February 1760 – 30 January 1817), formerly Lady Catherine Anne North, was the wife of Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie. She was the daughter of Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, and h ...

*1817–1821: Possibly vacant

Mistress of the robes to Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, 1830–1837

*1830–1837: Catherine Osborne, Duchess of Leeds *1830

Elizabeth Gordon, Duchess of Gordon Elizabeth Gordon, Duchess of Gordon (''née'' Brodie; 20 June 1794 – 31 January 1864), was a Scottish noblewoman. In 1813, she married George Gordon, Marquis of Huntly, afterwards the 5th Duke of Gordon. She was a member of the Scottish E ...

Mistress of the robes to Queen Victoria, 1837–1901

*1837–1841:

Harriet Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Sutherland-Leveson-Gower,The surname Leveson-Gower is pronounced Lewson-Gore. Duchess of Sutherland (née Howard; 21 May 1806 – 27 October 1868), styled The Honourable Harriet Howard before her marriage, was Mistress ...

*1841–1846:

Charlotte Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populou ...

*1846–1852:

*1852–1853:

Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl Anne Murray, Duchess of Atholl (17 June 1814 – 22 May 1897), born Anne Home-Drummond and known as The Lady Glenlyon between 1839 and 1846, as The Duchess of Atholl between 1846 and 1864 and as The Dowager Duchess of Atholl between 1864 and 1897 ...

*1853–1858:

*1858–1859: Louisa Montagu, Duchess of Manchester *1859–1861:

*1861–1868:

Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington Elizabeth Wellesley, Duchess of Wellington (''née'' Hay; 27 September 1820 – 13 August 1904), VA, was a daughter of the 8th Marquess of Tweeddale. Her husband, Lord Douro, succeeded his father as Duke of Wellington in 1852. She served as Mis ...

*1868–1870:

Elizabeth Campbell, Duchess of Argyll Elizabeth Georgiana Campbell, Duchess of Argyll (''née'' Leveson-Gower; 30 May 1824 – 25 May 1878) was a British noblewoman and abolitionist. Born into the wealthy Sutherland-Leveson-Gower family, she was the eldest daughter of the 2nd Du ...

*1870–1874:

Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland VA (21 April 1829 – 25 November 1888), 1st Countess of Cromartie in her own right and known as the Marchioness of Stafford from 1849 to 1861, was a British peeress. Early life Anne Hay-Ma ...

*1874–1880:

*1880–1883:

Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford Elizabeth Russell, Duchess of Bedford VA (''née'' Sackville-West; 23 September 1818 – 22 April 1897) was born the daughter of the 5th Earl De La Warr and his wife Lady Elizabeth Sackville. Early life She was baptised as Elizabeth West on 1 ...

*1883–1885:

Anne Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe Anne Emily Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe (''née'' Spencer-Churchill; 14 November 1854 – 20 June 1923) was the daughter of the 7th Duke of Marlborough, who served in Conservative governments as Lord President of the Council and Lord Lieute ...

*1885–1886:

Louisa Montagu Douglas Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry Louisa may refer to: Places ;Australia * Louisa Island (Tasmania) ;Canada * Louisa or Lac-Louisa, a community in Wentworth, Quebec ;Malaysia * Louisa Reef, Sabah ;United States * Louisa, Kentucky * Louisa, Missouri * Louisa, Virginia * Louis ...

*1886: Position vacant **Acting mistress of the robes:

*1886–1892:

*1892–1895: Position vacant **Acting mistress of the robes:

, and Anne Murray, Dowager Duchess of Atholl (jointly) *1894: Position vacant **Acting mistress of the robes:

Louisa McDonnell, Countess of Antrim Louisa Jane McDonnell, Countess of Antrim, VA (née Grey; 15 February 1855, St. James's Palace – 2 April 1949) was a British noblewoman and courtier. Lady Antrim was the daughter of Hon. Charles Grey (a son of the 2nd Earl Grey and Privat ...

*1895–1901:

Mistress of the robes to Alexandra of Denmark, 1901–1925

*1901–1912:

*1913–1925:

Winifred Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland Winifred Anna Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland (''née'' Dallas-Yorke; 7 September 1863 – 30 July 1954) was a British humanitarian and animal welfare activist. Background Born at Murthly Castle, Perthshire, she was the only daughte ...

Mistress of the robes to Mary of Teck, 1910–1953

*1910–1916:

Evelyn Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire Evelyn Emily Mary Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, (née Fitzmaurice; 27 August 1870 – 2 April 1960) was the wife of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire. She was the elder daughter of politician and diplomat Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, ...

*1916–1921:

Eileen Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland Eileen ( or ) is an Irish feminine given name anglicised from Eibhlín and may refer to: People Artists * Eileen Agar (1899–1991), British Surrealist painter and photographer *Eileen Fisher (born 1950), clothing retailer and designer * Eilee ...

*1921–1953:

(Dowager Duchess of Devonshire from 1938)

Mistress of the robes to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 1937–2002

*1937–1964:

Helen Percy, Duchess of Northumberland Helen Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, (13 December 1886 – 13 June 1965), was born as Lady Helen Magdalan Gordon-Lennox, the daughter of Charles Gordon-Lennox, Earl of March and Kinrara (later the 7th Duke of Richmond). She was married on 18 ...

(Dowager Duchess of Northumberland from 1946) *1964–1990:

Kathleen Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn Katherine Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn, (born Hon. Mary Katherine Crichton; 8 July 1905 – 2 February 1990) was Mistress of the Robes to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1964 until the Duchess's death in 1990. She was invested as a D ...

(Dowager Duchess of Abercorn from 1979) *1990–2002: Position vacant

Mistress of the robes to Elizabeth II, 1953–2022

*1953–1967: Mary Cavendish, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire *1967–2021: Fortune FitzRoy, Dowager Duchess of Grafton (Countess of Euston until 1970, Duchess of Grafton from 1970 to 2011, Dowager Duchess of Grafton from 2011) *2021–2022: Position vacant

Mistress of the robes to Camilla Parker Bowles, 2022–present

*2022–present: Position vacant

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mistress Of The Robes Positions within the British Royal Household Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom *