<P> The Kingdom of Belgium was founded in 1830, after which a royal court was founded, and ladies - in - waiting were appointed for Louise of Orléans when she became the first queen of Belgium in 1832 . The female office holders of the queen's household was created from the French model and composed of one dame d'honneur, followed by several ladies - in - waiting named dame du palais, in turn over ranking the premiere femme du chambre and the femme du chambre . </P> <P> The ladies - in waiting have historically been chosen by the Queen herself from among the Catholic noble houses of Belgium . The chief functions at court were undertaken by members of the higher nobility, involving much contact with the royal ladies . Belgian princesses were assigned a lady upon their 18th birthday . Princess Clementine was given a Dame by her father, a symbolic act of adulthood . </P> <P> When the Queen entertains, the ladies welcome guests and assist the hostess in sustaining conversation . </P> <P> In the current Royal Household of the United Kingdom Lady - in - Waiting is a woman attending a female member of the Royal Family . A woman attending on a Queen Regnant or Queen Consort is often (informally) known by the same title, but is more formally styled either: Woman of the Bedchamber, Lady of the Bedchamber or Mistress of the Robes, depending on which of these offices she holds . The Women are in regular attendance, but the Mistress of the Robes and the Ladies of the Bedchamber are normally required only for ceremonial occasions . The phrase Lady - in - Waiting to The Queen has, however, been used in formal documents to denote which of the Women is actually "on duty" at any one time . </P>

Where does the term lady in waiting come from