The Ladies-in-Waiting of the Tudor and Elizabethan Courts
- themuseumoftime
- Nov 1
- 4 min read
When you think of the women in a Tudor or Elizabethan court, what comes to your mind?
If you’re anything like me, you probably picture rich, red beaded gowns, long grey-stoned halls, grand banquets, and lively dances, something cinematic, almost worthy of a picture frame.
But let’s shift our focus for a moment, away from the queens and kings, and instead toward the maids and companions: those who made it to court, but not into our textbooks, unless they later became someone more “noble.”
While it’s true that we don’t have many detailed records of their day-to-day lives, we do have some surviving clues.
The Tudor era spanned from 1485 to 1603, beginning with the reign of Henry VII and ending with Elizabeth I, the start of what became known as the Elizabethan Age. During this time, politics and English culture underwent a dramatic transformation. From the early days of this new dynasty, we see the English Reformation and, later, the unification of England. It was an age marked by multiple monarchs, royal scandals, and endless intrigue, yet it was often the women, the quiet observers who knew the ins and outs of court life, whose stories remain the least explored.
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Lady-in-Waiting to a Queen of the Tudor and Elizabethan Court
What did it truly mean to serve a queen? Explore the duties, ranks, and secrets of those who stood closest to the crown.
So often, a lady-in-waiting is depicted as doing nothing more than dutifully following her queen, helping her change into her glorious garments, sitting quietly with hands folded neatly, dressed to impress but never to draw attention. While that may have been true for some, for most, this role was no small task. The position could consume one’s entire life, often granting access to moments and secrets that could never be repeated.
In some noble households, a lady-in-waiting might take on more physical or domestic labor, but serving a queen was a far more refined and demanding station, you were, after all, in the company of royalty.
The role of the lady-in-waiting evolved between the Tudor and Elizabethan eras. By Elizabeth’s reign, there were several ranks of ladies-in-waiting, each with a different level of closeness and value to the queen.
At the lowest level was the maid of honour, whose duties included performing dances and songs, as well as carrying messages for the queen. At the highest level stood the royal lady-in-waiting, chosen from the most noble families in England. Their service was not rewarded with money, but with political influence, prestige, and proximity to power. Their primary responsibility was to serve as companions to the queen and to impress visiting dignitaries with their grace and refinement.
It was customary for a queen to have multiple maids of honour and ladies-in-waiting. And, as was often the case in the Tudor era, at least one among them might catch the king’s attention, and sometimes, become his mistress.
Where the Role Originated
How did this remarkable position come to exist, and what kind of woman could earn her place beside the crown?
The role of the lady-in-waiting emerged during the Middle Ages, growing alongside the expansion of queenly households. These attendants were women for a practical reason, their duties often involved matters of personal hygiene and other intimate tasks. They were also responsible for sewing “unmentionables,” making the role unsuitable for men.
In the beginning, such a position came with a modest salary. But it wasn’t long before the idea took hold that only women of elevated status were worthy of such close contact (physical or social) with royalty.
If you wished to become a lady-in-waiting, there were a few requirements to meet. First: you had to be of noble birth, or at least attractive enough to pass as such. Second: you needed the ability to perform, to sing, dance, or read for the queen. And third: you had to be proficient in multiple languages.
When it came to politics, discretion was everything. A lady-in-waiting was expected to hold no opinions of her own, and to maintain the highest moral standards while surrounded by scandal and intrigue.
Of course, from our modern perspective, we know just how much political influence some of these women truly held. From becoming the king’s lovers to managing delicate palace secrets, their proximity to power often gave them a voice (albeit a quiet one) in shaping the most favorable outcomes behind the scenes.
Conclusion
To be a lady-in-waiting is to be the companion, confidante, and administrative assistant of a queen. To be a lady-in-waiting is to hold power, even when those on the outside do not see it. You hold power at your fingertips, with the ability to hear and see what others cannot, with advantages others can only dream of.
But you must be careful to avoid the scandal that will follow your name if you play your part wrong. There is no faster way to harm a queen than through the betrayal of those closest to her.
Author: The Museum of Time, Ava McCloskey
1 November 2025, lastest update
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