Harriet Phipps
Encyclopedia
Harriet Lepel Phipps, VA
(1841 – 7 March 1922) was a confidential attendant of Queen Victoria.
Harriet was the younger daughter of Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps
, a courtier and confidant of the Queen, as Keeper of the Privy Purse
. Harriet was appointed Maid of Honour in Ordinary to the Queen on 3 March 1862 (giving her the courtesy rank
of a baron's daughter), and later served as a Woman of the Bedchamber
from 1889 until Victoria's death. She was decorated with the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
, 4th class.
Phipps was used by the Queen to carry out confidential errands, and had access to many secrets, which she faithfully kept. Her papers were destroyed upon her death. Marie Mallet, a fellow lady of the bedchamber, found Phipps, as a messenger of instructions from Victoria, somewhat awe-inspiring, but "gay and excellent company and always warm-hearted".
Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was a British Royal Family Order instituted in on 10 February 1862 by Queen Victoria, and enlarged on 10 October 1864; 15 November 1865; and 15 March 1880. No awards were made after the death of Queen Victoria....
(1841 – 7 March 1922) was a confidential attendant of Queen Victoria.
Harriet was the younger daughter of Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps
Charles Beaumont Phipps
Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps , was a British soldier and courtier.He was the second son of Henry Phipps, 1st Earl of Mulgrave, and was born at the family estate of Mulgrave Castle in 1801. Educated at Harrow, Phipps joined the army by purchasing a commission as an ensign and lieutenant in the Scots...
, a courtier and confidant of the Queen, as Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
. Harriet was appointed Maid of Honour in Ordinary to the Queen on 3 March 1862 (giving her the courtesy rank
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
of a baron's daughter), and later served as a Woman of the Bedchamber
Woman of the Bedchamber
In the Royal Household of the United Kingdom the term Woman of the Bedchamber is used to describe a woman attending either a queen regnant or queen consort, in the role of Lady-in-Waiting...
from 1889 until Victoria's death. She was decorated with the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was a British Royal Family Order instituted in on 10 February 1862 by Queen Victoria, and enlarged on 10 October 1864; 15 November 1865; and 15 March 1880. No awards were made after the death of Queen Victoria....
, 4th class.
Phipps was used by the Queen to carry out confidential errands, and had access to many secrets, which she faithfully kept. Her papers were destroyed upon her death. Marie Mallet, a fellow lady of the bedchamber, found Phipps, as a messenger of instructions from Victoria, somewhat awe-inspiring, but "gay and excellent company and always warm-hearted".