History Main / LadyInWaiting

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* Yuri Ishtar from ''Manga/RedRiver1995'' has several ladies in waiting, as it befits her position as Kail's lover and partner. Three of them [[BadassFamily are sisters]] as well as {{Action Girl}}s (the LadyOfWar Hadi and the {{Cute Bruiser}}s Shala and Ryuhi), the other two are Princess Alexandra from the Arzawa lands and a commoner girl named Ursula [[spoiler: who later pulls an HeroicSacrifice to help Yuri when she's falsely accused of murder.]]
* In ''Anime/SaintSeiyaSoulOfGold'', a young woman named Lyfia starts as Princess Hilda's lady-in-waiting before she becomes the protagonist of the series.
* ''Anime/CrossAnge'' has Momoka, Princess Angelise/Ange's former lady-in-waiting. Momoka is so loyal to Ange that even after Ange is revealed to be a Norma, disinherited, and sent into exile at Arzenal, Momoka follows her to continue serving her. Normally, she wouldn't have been allowed to do that, but Ange exploits a [[LoopholeAbuse legal loophole]] to allow Momoka to stay with her. [[spoiler: She even tries a MutualKill with Embryo and herself out of affection for Ange, and barely survives.]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

* Daisy Duck plays this role to Princess Minnie in ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers''. While trying to keep Minnie focused on marrying into nobility, she is her best friend and supporter. She later becomes part of a BetaCouple with Donald, despite his lack of noble birth.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Padmé Amidala's handmaidens in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' and ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' serve as both attendants and [[BodyDouble decoys]] for her. They're also [[AmazonBrigade trained in combat]] and fight alongside her during the Battle of Naboo.
* In ''Film/TheOtherBoleynGirl'' Mary Boleyn is added as a short-lived lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon. This was TruthInTelevision.
* In the Disney version of ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1993}}'', Constance Bonacieux specifically refers to herself as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen of France.

* ''Film/MarieAntoinette2006'': Marie Antoinette is attended by her two closest friends, the Princesse de Lamballe and the Duchesse de Polignac.

* In the live-action version of ''Film/{{Aladdin|2019}}'', Princess Jasmine has a handmaiden named Dalia, who serves as her confidante and becomes one half of a BetaCouple with the Genie. She at one point pretends to be Jasmine, who doesn't get to leave the palace much and doesn't want Aladdin to know [[KingIncognito who she really is]], which is PlayedForLaughs on account of Dalia's BadBadActing.
* In ''Film/TheHandmaiden'', Sook-hee is employed as a maid/companion for Lady Hideko. She's secretly helping con her into marrying Fujiwara, who intends to commit her to an asylum once he's got her fortune. However, matters are complicated when Sook-hee finds herself [[InLoveWithTheMark falling in love with Hideko]].

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', several ladies-in-waiting serve as minor characters who attend to more major characters. Not surprisingly for this series, they tend to meet with some misfortune due to their positions.
** Queen Cersei Lannister has several attendants, including Jocelyn Swyft.
** Margaery Tyrell has several ladies-in-waiting, including her cousins Megga, Elinor, and Alla. [[spoiler:When Cersei frames Margaery for having sex with several men, she likewise frames her cousins since they never leave Margaery's side]].
** Lady Ashara Dayne was a lady-in-waiting for Princess Elia Martell. This placed her at the Tourney at Harrenhall, where she became pregnant by an unknown man (rumored to be a Stark). She lost the baby at birth, and this, along with the death of her elder brother Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, led to her suicide.
* In ''Literature/GleamsOfAeterna'', Louise Aramona, one of the narrators, and her daughter Celine end up as ladies-in-waiting first of Aeris Oakdell (sister of Duke Richard Oakdell) and then of Queen Catherine, all on a whim of the inscrutable yet all-powerful Duke Roque Alva.
* In '' Literature/TheWarOfTheAncients'', Queen Azshara, has a retinue of handmaidens, all of whom dye their hair silver to match that of their queen, but none of them can compare [[WorldsMostBeautifulWoman with Azshara's overwhelming beauty]].

* In the ''Sissi'' novels by several authors, Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary (aka Sissi) has several noblewomen as her ladies-in-waiting. One of them is the Italian countess Paola di Bellegarde [[spoiler: whom [[ShipperOnDeck Sissi]] hooks up with the Count of Königsegg-Aulendorf in one of the books.]]
* In ''Literature/{{Seraphina}}'', Princess Glisselda spends most of her time with her favourite lady-in-waiting, Milliphrene, whom she [[AffectionateNickname nicknames 'Millie']].
* In the ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'' quartet, Yukimi noh Daiomoru and Haname noh Ajikuro are the ladies-in-waiting to Princess Shinkokami.

* The Imperial palace and assorted princely and noble households in Literature/TheTaleOfGenji simply overflow with numerous ladies in waiting. The author of the Tale, Creator/MurasakiShikibu, was a real-life lady in waiting.

* Queen Ehlana, of the ''Literature/{{Elenium}}'' series, isn't particularly fond of noblewomen. Her closest attendant is the giantess Mirtai, whom she purchased from a slave merchant with the intent of freeing her. Mirtai, who comes from a race of people who consider freedom to be dangerous, prefers to continue regarding the Queen as her owner; this does not, however, stop her from outright bullying Ehlana into doing things like dressing more warmly and eating properly.
%%* Annette from ''Jig-Saw'' serves this role to Mona.
* ''Literature/RapunzelAndTheLostLagoon'': This trope is discussed in the novel ''Literature/RapunzelAndTheLostLagoon'' between Princess Rapunzel and a reluctant Cassandra, whose dream is to be a Royal Guard and not a Royal Servant. The appointing of Cassandra as Rapunzel's lady-in-waiting kicks off the plot, and Princess Rapunzel quotes a book about the duties of a lady-in-waiting to a [[ThisIsGonnaSuck reluctant Cassandra]].
* Many of the major and supporting characters in ''Literature/TheLadyGraceMysteries'' are ladies in service to Queen Elizabeth I, including the main protagonist herself. To be technical Grace's title is "Maid of Honor", which in this context is a term used for a junior lady-in-waiting (she's an unmarried teenager); her position and role at court is otherwise identical.
* The plot of ''Literature/TheDoorInTheWall'' is kicked off when both of the child protagonist's parents (who are minor nobles) are summoned to service -- his father to the army, his mother to wait on the Queen.
* ''Literature/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' has Anne, who serves as Catarina's personal maid and confidente. As the ([[HeroicBastard illegitimate]]) daughter of a baron, she's considered lower nobility, in line with what ladies-in-waiting were in real life.
* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfDorsa'': Mylla, Tasia's handmaid at the beginning. They're also lovers, and the fact handmaids even sleep in the same bed as their mistresses helps [[SecretlyGayActivity disguise the fact]].
* ''Literature/TheQueenOfIeflaria'': Princess Esofi is accompanied by several ladies in waiting, who are friends of hers too. One of them, Lexandrie, is also her cousin. Another, Lisette, is also her bodyguard.

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "King and Brooks", Miss Brooks' dream sequence features several ladies-in-waiting serving her.

* In Theatre/OnceUponAMattress, the female ensemble is ladies-in-waiting of the queen and eventually Winnifred. Sir Harry's girlfriend, Larken, is also a lady in waiting.
* Given the time period he wrote in, it's not surprising that a lot of these have supporting roles in Shakespeare's plays (although not as many as one might expect, given the number of royals and nobles he depicts):
** In ''Theatre/TwelfthNight'', Maria is a gentlewoman to Olivia, the highest-ranking female noble in Illyria. At the end of the play, it is announced that Sir Toby Belch has married Maria offstage, which simply wouldn't have happened if she was a commoner maid.
** Hero in ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'' has Margaret and Ursula. This one uses a variant on the BodyDouble concept, as Margaret apparently resembles Hero enough that Don John uses her in a plot to convince Hero's fiancé that she's unfaithful.
** Portia in ''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'' has Nerissa, who becomes a WholesomeCrossdresser along with her mistress.
** The Princess of France in ''Theatre/LovesLaboursLost'' has Rosaline, Katherine, and Maria. Unusual for Shakespeare in that Rosaline, not the Princess, is part of the lead couple.
** [[Theatre/AntonyAndCleopatra Cleopatra]] has Charmian and Iras, who are loyal enough to follow Cleopatra into death.
** Emilia plays this role for Desdemona in ''Theatre/{{Othello}}'', as the wife of a military officer attending on the wife of a higher-ranking officer.
** Princess Katherine in ''Theatre/HenryV'' learns English from her lady-in-waiting Alice.

* In one of the multiple endings of ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker2'', the daughter of the game [[http://princessmaker.wikia.com/wiki/Lady_In_Waiting_Ending_(PM2) ends up working as the lady-in-waiting to the Queen]]. Technically speaking, however, she can sort of unofficially play the role by sneaking into the palace and managing to talk to either the Royal Concubine or the Queen if she has the traits needed (Conversation/Speech for the first, Temperance/Personality for the second).

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' (and previously shown in the tie-in novel ''Literature/TheMaskedEmpire''), Grand Duchess Florianne de Chalons serves as lady-in-waiting and companion to her cousin, Empress Celene Valmont I; the two are extremely close. [[spoiler:This closeness is the reason why no one suspects that Florianne is plotting Celene's murder on behalf of the game's BigBad.]]

* ''Literature/TheQueenOfIeflaria'': Princess Esofi is accompanied by several ladies in waiting, who are friends of hers too. One of them, Lexandrie, is also her cousin.

* ''Literature/TheQueenOfIeflaria'': Princess Esofi is accompanied by several ladies in waiting, who are friends of hers too.

The duties of a lady-in-waiting can vary greatly, as can their relationship with their mistress. They will often help her get dressed, serve food to her room, and prepare her for bed, while also accompanying her during courtly activities like dancing lessons or horse riding. Depending on how much the mistress trusts her ladies-in-waiting, they could be her confidante or pass on secret messages for her or spy on other members of the court. Ladies-in-waiting can be either viewed as friends by the mistress, or as simple tools to use however she sees fit.

** Earlier, during Louis [=XV's=] reign, Oscar was dragged in the conflict between the Countess [=DuBarry=], the King's officially recognized mistress, and Marie Antoinette, then merely the Dauphine (wife of the heir). The former tried to earn Oscar's support by having her mother appointed as her lady-in-waiting; Marie Antoinette responded by doing the same, leading to Louis XV giving Oscar's mother the right to choose which place she wanted. As they all knew this was actually about Oscar, Lady Jarjayes made ''her'' choose, with Oscar choosing Marie Antoinette because she knew that [[ForegoneConclusion while DuBarry at the moment was the most powerful, Marie Antoinette would win in the long term simply by becoming Queen of France]], an event she expected would come relatively soon due to Louis [=XV's=] advanced age (he would indeed die in about two years).

** Her sister Arya Stark, because it's traditional for a Dornish bride to surround herself with her sisters while she's acclimating to her new home. Arya acts her [[TheCaretaker caretaker]] so her pregnant sister won't overtax herself and as a bodyguard.
** [[OriginalCharacter Gwyn Parren]], one of Winterfell's fosterlings and Lyarra's best friend. She cooks and finds food for Lyarra and her party, helps makes clothes for her, helps Lyarra dress and style herself and acts as Lyarra's spy and accountant.

* In the Disney version of ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1993}}'', Constance Bonacieux specifically refers to herself as a lady in waiting to the Queen of France.

* In the ''Doubled Edge'' novels by Creator/MercedesLackey, most of young Elizabeth's ladies in waiting are spying on her for other factions.

* ''Literature/RapunzelAndTheLostLagoon'': This trope is discussed in the novel ''Literature/RapunzelAndTheLostLagoon'' between Princess Rapunzel and a reluctant Cassandra, whose dream is to be a Royal Guard and not a Royal Servant. The appointing of Cassandra as Rapunzel lady-in-waiting kick off the plot, and Princess Rapunzel quotes a book about the duties of a lady-in-waiting to a [[ThisIsGonnaSuck reluctant Cassandra]].

* In Theatre/OnceUponAMattress, the female ensemble is ladies in waiting of the queen and eventually Winnifred. Sir Harry's girlfriend, Larken, is also a lady in waiting.
* Given the time period he wrote in, it's not surprising that a lot of these have supporting roles in Shakespeare plays (although not as many as one might expect, given the number of royals and nobles he depicts):

* In ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro'', Figaro's sweetheart Susanna works as Countess Rosina's handmaid. Then, the Count of Almaviva starts courting her and [[ShippingTorpedo creating obstacles]] to her and Figaro's relationship. The plot of both the play and the opera relays on pretty much everyone brewing a XanatosGambit to get the Count to stop.

* In one of the multiple endings of ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker2'', the daughter of the game [[http://princessmaker.wikia.com/wiki/Lady_In_Waiting_Ending_(PM2) ends up working as the lady-in-waiting to the Queen]]. Technically speaking, however, she can sort-of unofficially play the role by sneaking into the palace and managing to talk to either the Royal Concubine or the Queen if she has the traits needed (Conversation/Speech for the first, Temperance/Personality for the second).

Other terms that are used instead of lady-in-waiting include maid-of-honor, handmaiden, and lady’s maid. The difference between a maid-of-honor and a lady-in-waiting is that a maid-of-honor was young and unmarried, while a lady-in-waiting was a married adult.

Other terms that are used instead of lady-in-waiting include maid-of-honor, handmaiden, and lady’s maid.

Other terms that are used instead of lady-in-waiting include maid-of-honor, handmaiden, and lady’s maid. The difference between a
lady-in-waiting and a maid-of-honor is that a maid-of-honor is usually young and always unmarried.

lady-in-waiting and a maid-of-honor is that a maid-of-honor is younger and unmarried.

lady-in-waiting and a maid-of-honor is that a maid-of-honor is usually younger and unmarried.

Other terms that are used instead of lady-in-waiting include maid-of-honor, handmaiden, and lady’s maid.

->''"And when my mom suggested that you be my lady-in-waiting, it felt so right to me. Do you know what that's like? When something just feels right?"\\
Cassandra stared, taking another cookie.\\
"Anyway, according to this book, a lady-in-waiting's duties include teaching me manners, languages, and dances prevalent at court; reading and composing correspondence -- though, honestly, I don't know who's going to write me a letter; painting, which I love with my whole heart; horseback riding -- sign me up! music and participation in other queenly pastimes. There's also care of my wardrobe -- I'm not too into clothes, so let's not worry about that; matters of diplomacy; supervision of servants; keeping me informed about everything that's happening at court; and discreetly relaying messages upon command. But I'm not exactly the type to give commands. I guess you could say we have a lot of work ahead of us."\\
Cassandra had placed the cookie on her lap and was growing paler by the second.''

** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'', [[BlackMagicianGirl Linde]] becomes a mix of this, NumberTwo and TheApprentice to [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask Princess Nyna]]. Her lady-in-liege trusts her to the point of [[spoiler: handing her the Fire Emblem to give it to Marth]].

* ''LightNovel/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' has Anne, who serves as Catarina's personal maid and confidente. As the ([[HeroicBastard illegitimate]]) daughter of a baron, she's considered lower nobility, in line with what ladies-in-waiting were in real life.

* ''Art/LasMeninas'' by Diego Velasquez depicts the princess of Spain with her Ladies-of-Honor, another term for a lady-in-waiting.

Other terms that are used instead of lady-in-waiting include lady-of-honor, handmaiden, and lady’s maid.

The duties of a lady-in-waiting can vary greatly, as can their relationship with their mistress. They will often help her get dressed, get food, and prepare her for bed, while also accompanying her during courtly activities like dancing or horse riding. Depending on how much the mistress trusts her ladies-in-waiting, they could pass on secret messages for her or act as spies on other members of the court. Ladies-in-waiting can be either viewed as friends by the mistress, or simple tools to use however she sees fit.

If a lady-in-waiting has a close physical resemblance to their mistress, she may be utilized as a BodyDouble to throw off possible assassination attempts.

Other terms that are used instead of lady-in-waiting include lady-of-honor, handmaiden, and lady attendant.

** Her sister Arya Stark, because it's traditional for a Dornish bride to surround herself with her sisters while she's acclimating to her new home. She acts her [[TheCaretaker caretaker]] so her pregnant sister won't overtax herself and as a bodyguard.
** [[OriginalCharacter Gwyn Parren]], one of Winterfell's fosterlings and Lyarra's best friend. She cooks and finds food Lyarra and her party, she helps makes clothes for her and helps her dress and style herself and acts as Lyarra's spy and accountant.

* Wiki/TheOtherWiki [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady-in-waiting has a list of some ladies who have been this throughout history.]] Some of these include: the aforementioned Comtesse de Polignac and Princess of Lamballe (France); writers and rivals Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon, plus Masako Touzuka aka Lady Saigou, Lady Yoshiko Nakayama and Lady Naruko Yanagihara among others (Japan); the also aforementioned Paola di Bellegarde alongside Countess Wulff, Sofia Esterhàzy-Liechtenstein and Countess Caroline Lamberg (Austro-Hungarian Empire), four of Henry VIII's six wives (Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Catherine Howard, ''and'' Catherine Parr) (England), Lady and later Queen Consort Hui-bin Jang (Korea), Christina Augusta von Fersen/Loewenheim (Sweden), etc.

* The CreepyTwins Hien and Souhi can be seen as this for Hinoto in ''Manga/{{X 1999}}''. Hinoto isn't exactly a noblewoman but actually the leader of the Dragons of the Heaven, but she's referred to as "princess" and since she's also a deaf/mute/crippled IllGirl, the twins are always by her side.

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "King and Brooks", Miss Brooks' dream sequence features several ladies-in-waiting serving her.
* In ''Series/TheTudors'' a large proportion of Henry VIII's mistresses come from his various wives' ladies-in-waiting, as well as two of his wives themselves (Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour).
* In ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures,'' Rani becomes a lady-in-waiting to the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days Queen, while time traveling. She claims to be "Lady Rani of the Court of the Taj Mahal", in order to HandWave the fact that she's claiming to [[NoEqualOpportunityTimeTravel be a gentlewoman despite her ethnicity]].

* Guinevere from ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' acts as one to Lady Morgana, though she's only a blacksmith's daughter and is referred to as a maidservant.

* Lady Cluck to Maid Marian in the Disney version of ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood''. In their first scene, they are playing badminton and Cluck jokes, "As your lady-in-waiting, I'm waiting."

* In the Disney version of ''Film/{{The ThreeM usketeers|1993}}'', Constance Bonacieux specifically refers to herself as a lady in waiting to the Queen of France.

SisterTrope to TheSquire.

* The plot of ''Literature/ADoorInTheWall'' is kicked off when both of the child protagonist's parents (who are minor nobles) are summoned to service -- his father to the army, his mother to wait on the Queen.

* The plot of Literature/ADoorInTheWall is kicked off when both of the child protagonist's parents (who are minor nobles) are summoned to service -- his father to the army, his mother to wait on the Queen.