Princess Anne has “inherited” two of the late Queen’s ladies in waiting as one of Zara Tindall’s closest friends, Dolly Maude, also joins the royal household.
The Princess Royal announced that both Lady Elizabeth Leeming and Mrs Susan Rhodes have been appointed as her ladies in waiting.
These women were part of the Queen’s inner circle, which consisted of five women who worked for her until her funeral in September 2022.
The other three ladies, Lady Susan Hussey, Dame Mary Morrison and Dame Annabel Whitehead, were given new appointments as “ladies of the household” for the King and Queen immediately after the funeral.
Princess Anne employs her daughter's friend, Dolly Maude, as a lady in waiting
PA
One of Zara Tindall’s closest friends, Dolly Maude, is also set to join her mother’s team of 11 ladies in waiting.
The appointments come as some of Princess Anne’s previous ladies in waiting retired from their roles.
Princess Anne’s ladies perform administrative tasks and can accompany her on any number of engagements at home and abroad.
Maude, an NHS midwife, was Zara’s maid of honour at her wedding to Mike Tindall in 2011.
Dolly Maude was Zara Tindall's maid of honour at her wedding in 2011
PA
On one occasion, Maude joined Zara at the races wearing a “Lady in waiting” badge which led to a spokesperson to clarify the situation.
Zara's spokesperson said: "It was a joke. Zara doesn’t have any sort of lady in waiting."
A friend of Maude commented on how she will be a good fit for the role stating: “For the Princess Royal, it’s a perfect fit because of their shared love of dogs and horses.
"She also gets on brilliantly with the Princess. She’s fiercely loyal and discreet. It’s a great match."
Susan Rhodes was one of the late Queen's ladies in waiting and is now set to become part of Princess Anne's royal household
Getty
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The Princess Royal has 11 ladies in waiting
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Princess Anne has also employed a new private secretary, Col John Boyd, who just spent 32 years in the British Army as a commanding officer of 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
He has replaced Charles Davies, who worked for the princess since February 2019.
The late Queen’s ladies in waiting provided companionship and personal care for the Queen, but Princess Anne’s household runs differently.
The Princess Royal’s household are based across the UK and divide Anne’s busy schedule into regions so that a lady can accompany her when are where she needs.