Harriet Lepel Phipps

A carte-de-visite portrait of Harriet Lepel Phipps, daughter of the Honourable Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps, Keeper of the Privy Purse.

Miss Phipps was born on 22 January 1844. On 3 March 1862 she was appointed a Maid-of-Honour to her Majesty, which gave her the courtesy rank of a baron's daughter. She held this position until 1869, during which time she acted as a private secretary to the Queen, writing letters and carrying out confidential errands. She was later a Bedchamber-Woman in Ordinary to her Majesty from 1889 until the Queen's death in 1901. Marie Mallet, a fellow lady of the bedchamber, described her as 'gay and excellent company and always warm-hearted.'

The Honourable Miss Phipps died on 7 March 1922 at Kensington Palace, where her sister was Keeper of the State Apartments. She left effects valued at £2858.

Photographed by Camille Silvy of London on 21 November 1861.