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Bridgerton Season 4 unmasks something the mamas and debutantes of Mayfair never expected: Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), a known rake, on the hunt for a wife.
However, the shocking revelations do not end at the gates of Bridgerton House. Behind her castle walls, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) gears up for an unprecedented face-off with her longtime friend Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh). When Lady Danbury surveys the ton’s chessboard, she discerns the key to solving her royal troubles: Queen Charlotte’s ladies-in-waiting.
The ladies-in-waiting have been Bridgerton figureheads since the series premiere, serving as Queen Charlotte’s ever-present backup. They’re rarely seen without a pristine white gown or a chic matching fan. Looking to have the freedom to travel the world (including to her ancestral homeland), Lady Danbury realizes she must first procure a suitable lady-in-waiting for Queen Charlotte. The monarch will never allow her closest friend to leave England without a worthy new right-hand woman.
As viewers come to understand just how important this mysterious role is, they’re likely asking a few questions: What is a lady-in-waiting? What are her duties? And what exactly does Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) have to do with the position? Don’t delay — we answer all those questions and more ahead of Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2, premiering Feb. 26.
What is a lady-in-waiting?
Ladies-in-waiting are essential members of a queen’s court. They are aristocrats, just like the rest of Bridgerton’s ton. In the series, a lady-in-waiting’s job is to be a companion to Queen Charlotte and attend to her day-to-day social needs. They’re consistently on call, whether the royal is at home in her gilded abode, gracing a ballroom, or taking a stroll through the gardens.
Although Queen Charlotte’s ladies-in-waiting become a major part of Season 4’s storyline, they’ve been hiding in plain sight since the beginning of Bridgerton. In Queen Charlotte’s very first scene, her ladies-in-waiting can be seen behind her, fanning themselves during Daphne Bridgerton’s (Phoebe Dynevor) debutante presentation. Queen Charlotte’s court continues to serve as her loyal shadow throughout the rest of the series and in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
As a constant presence in Queen Charlotte’s life, the ladies-in-waiting’s duties include standing nearby, listening to gossip, and supporting the monarch’s latest ideas. Because of their regular proximity to Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury thinks the next lady-in-waiting needs to be “intelligent and of good character.”
Are ladies-in-waiting and ladies’ maids the same thing?
A ladies’ maid is another position often discussed in the halls of Mayfair. But the functions of a ladies’ maid and a lady-in-waiting are quite different. A lady-in-waiting is part of high society, and her responsibilities are social. A lady-in-waiting is never expending physical labor. A ladies’ maid, on the other hand, exclusively performs domestic work for the aristocratic household that employs her.
The efforts of ladies’ maids are more important than ever in Season 4. In Episode 4, heroine Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) is hired as Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Eloise Bridgerton’s (Claudia Jessie) ladies’ maid, at the request of their older brother Benedict (Luke Thompson). Some of Sophie’s qualifications for her new post include knowing the latest fashions, cleaning, mending, and even speaking multiple languages (French, Latin, and Korean, as Eloise gushes).
As Sophie settles into her position, we see her minding Hyacinth’s embroidery, dressing the youngest Bridgerton daughter, and conversing with both her charges. Though it’s not part of the job, Eloise is charmed by Sophie’s penchant for books and reading.
Is Lady Danbury a lady-in-waiting?
In 2023’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, we learn young Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas) was one of young Queen Charlotte’s (India Amarteifio) very first ladies-in-waiting. Through the position, Agatha became a true friend to Charlotte and her closest confidant. In the ensuing decades, the duo shaped society together and weathered many hardships. However, as Lady Danbury says in Season 4, Episode 3, she hasn’t been Queen Charlotte’s lady-in-waiting “for years.”
Lady Danbury’s retirement from the position is evident, since she isn’t expected to tend to Queen Charlotte around the clock — or don a white wig. Instead, Lady Danbury is free to come and go from the castle and pursue her own passions or social obligations at will.
Who are Queen Charlotte’s ladies-in-waiting?
Queen Charlotte’s lady-in-waiting problem begins in Episode 2. In the middle of a chess game between Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury, Brimsley (Hugh Sachs) announces the arrival of Lady Baird (Fadillah Othman), a lady-in-waiting. Apparently, Lady Baird is “in a delicate condition,” which is a euphemism for pregnant. Unhappy with Lady Baird’s lack of consideration, Queen Charlotte instantly fires her.
At the end of Season 4, Part 1, Queen Charlotte has three ladies-in-waiting left. And then there’s Alice …
Is Alice Mondrich a lady-in-waiting?
Much to Alice’s own surprise — maybe. The possibility comes about after Lady Danbury brings Alice before Queen Charlotte in Episode 4. Both Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte understand the conversation is a job interview. Alice, on the other hand, merely thinks she’s offering up the latest intel on Benedict, the season’s most eligible bachelor. Queen Charlotte is pleased with Alice’s gossip and happy enough to allow Lady Danbury to recommend her mentee for the role.
Alice is the only one vexed by the offer.
Over four seasons, Alice has undergone many forced transformations. In Season 1, she was the happy wife of a boxer. In Season 2, she had to support her husband, Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe), when he decided to open a gentlemen’s club. In Season 3, the Mondriches’ young son Nicky (James Bryan) was raised to the title of baron, pulling the entire family into the ton. In Season 4, Alice is unsure she’s prepared to be a key member of Queen Charlotte’s orbit; only two years prior, Mrs. Mondrich was part of the working class. Thankfully, Alice’s spirits are bolstered by a pep talk from Lady Danbury. “You will challenge [Queen Charlotte],” Lady Danbury says. “You will tell her the truth.”
By the end of Episode 4, Alice realizes the offer is an opportunity, not a burden. But she still questions whether she will be able to fill Lady Danbury’s shoes. Will Alice find her own unique footing? Will she even accept the role? Find out when Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 debuts on Feb. 26.
And keep coming back to Tudum for even more news out of Queen Charlotte’s castle.
Watch the Trailer for Bridgerton: The Official PodcastDive deep into romances, scandals, and familial ties of Mayfair