A LADY OF THE COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 5

A LADY OF THE COURT.

Thc i most famous Lady-in-Waiting in Eng-; land is the Hon. Charlotte Knollys, sister ; to Lord Knollys, who for'years lias been ! the King's Private Secretary. - It is difß-. quit (says "M.A.P.") to. define her' exact position. The designation of "Bedchamber Woman" supplied by Court directories is altogether vide of the mark, for lier Majesty treats this valued friend of forty years as a sister • rather than as a servant. Miss Knollys is the only person outside of tho ' Queen's immediate relations who is permitted to call her. Majesty by hor Christian name. ..She accompanies her Royal mistress everywhere, and is by her side practically evory hour of the day..

Whatever privileges Miss Knollys may enjoy—and >thcy are many—it is safe to say that she ' can never bo adequately com■ponsated for her devotion and sclf-sacrifico to the interests of her mistress. Many years ago Miss Knollys was loved by a prominent member of the Princo of Wales's suite, and his affection was reciprocated. It was entirely owing to her resolve to continue to sorvo tho Queen that Miss Knollys refused the. proposal of marriage which sho thon received. Her Majesty has said that sho owes her lifo, to Miss Knollys, • whose promptitudo in warning tho Queen of the outbreak of fire in her : room at Sandringham some months ago enabled her Majesty to escape from tho danger in time. For this service she was presented with a gold "medal bearing the inscription:—"To our dear Charlotte, in recognition of her presence of mind in warning us of our imminent' peril by firo : at Sandringham, 1007."