Maids of Honour
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maids of Honour were the junior attendants upon a queen in the royal households of the United Kingdom. Traditionally, a Queen regnant had eight Maids of Honour, while a Queen consort had four.
Anne of Brittany is said to have instituted the Queen's Maids of Honour at the court.
At her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II had Maids of Honour who attended her throughout the ceremony, especially carrying the trains of her robes. The last Maid of Honour was retired in 1936.
[edit] Terminology
The term Lady-in-Waiting is used to describe a woman attending a female member of the Royal Family other than the Queen regnant or Queen consort. An attendant upon one of the latter is styled Lady of the Bedchamber or Woman of the Bedchamber, and the senior Lady-in-Waiting is the Mistress of the Robes. The Women of the Bedchamber are in regular attendance, but the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber are normally only required for ceremonial occasions.
"Maid of Honour" led to the American English term "maid of honor", usually the best friend of a bride who leads her bridal party.
[edit] Food
The term also refers to a small cake,[1] the recipe dates from 1525 and the reign of Henry VIII.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Maids Of Honour Cakes Recipe. Retrieved on 2008-04-18.
- ^ The Original Maids of Honour - History. Retrieved on 2008-04-18.
