MISTRESS OF THE ROBES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 7 (Supplement)

MISTRESS OF THE ROBES.

The Duchess of Sutherland, who has just been appointed Mistress of the Robes, is probably the youngest Mistress of the Robes who has ever held the appointment to a British Queen, certainly the youngest since the days of Queen Anne. She is the daughter of the Earl of Lanesborough. who was Military Secretary to Eat! Grey when GovernorGeneral of Canada, and of the Countess of bo rough, who is the daughter of the late Major-General Tombs. V.C.

The new Mistress of the Robes began her connection with the Queen's household at the time o*f the Coronation, when sh« was one of the eight daughters of peers who (.allied Her Majesty's train She is therefore one of the twelve young —four of them maids of honoui — who have their Majesties' Coronation medal. She w.-.s married iu April. 1912, and she accompanied "the Duke of Sutherland 011 a bijf-ganiß..shooting expedition in British Last Africa. During the past two years her grace has devoted much of her time to v. ar relief work.

Sarah Jennings, the celebrated Duchess : of Marlborough, : was' M isttess of the Robes to Qiie?n Anne in 1704. when she had been married more than a score of ' years. In 1710 Elizabeth Duchess of I Somerset was appointed to the post, and ' also —the Queen being then a widow ' held the offi< e of Groom of the Stole, the only woman known to have occupied that position. Mistresses of the Robes who have held ' office for the greatest number of years. : though not consecutively. • are the" late : Duchess of Buccleuch. who for thirteen j years acted in the capacity to Queen , Victoria, and for eleven years to Queen ! Alexandra; and Harriet. Duchess of j Sutherland, who was Mistress of the • Robes to Queen Victoria for in all abcut ! seventeen years. It was to this Duchess i that Queen Victoria made her famous ; mot apropos of a visit to Stafford House :! "I have come to yiiir palace from mv ' ).oi—■» " '--■ - ..f <■•"♦'. - —i_ i mother of the late Duke, also become Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria, so tiiat tne utes< • i>m.iit .-, ».* tne ni., u holder of the title to fill the highest ' Court appointment open to a woman. j In her official capacitv the Mistress of i the Robes is brought less into personal J association with the Queen than are the Ladies aid VA omen of the Bedchamber. Her dutitf require attendance onlv on occasions of zreat ceremony. At such times her gr.,.e—for th» holder of the position must be a Di;'he.-s—is brought to the Palace and take; her departure therefrom in a Royal carriage. When a State visit abroad is paid by the Queen th" Mistress of tho Robes goes in attend- I ance. I

At one time the dresses worn bv the Queen on historical occasions were the perquisite of the Mistress of the Robes. Later a salary was substituted to cover the expenses of gowns to he worn in attendance. It was adequate only when the Court we. in retirement, as in Victorian days, and now the honour of the appointment may h° considered its only guerdon. as any salary that may be attached to it is used for some philkiihropic purpose.