Susan Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley

Susan Katharine Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley (née Waldegrave; born 1 May 1939), known as Lady Susan Hussey, is a British noblewoman who served as a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II and is a Lady of the Household under King Charles III. According to BBC News, Hussey "was a key and trusted figure in the British royal household for decades."

Early life Lady Susan Katharine Waldegrave was born on 1 May 1939 in Bath, Somerset. She is the fifth and youngest daughter of the 12th Earl Waldegrave, and Mary Hermione Grenfell (1909–1995). She is the sister of the 13th Earl Waldegrave and the Conservative politician William Waldegrave. Her aunt, Dame Frances Campbell-Preston, was lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Royal household Hussey joined the royal household in 1960, initially helping with royal correspondence, before being promoted to the position of Woman of the Bedchamber, owing to her knowledge of the inner workings of the household. She was a close friend of Queen Elizabeth II, as well as of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and often spent time at Balmoral Castle.

With other members of the royal household, Hussey attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022. Following the Queen's death, she was made a Lady of the Household, along with the late Queen's other ladies-in-waiting, and was responsible for assisting at events held at Buckingham Palace. that provides specialist services to women of African and Caribbean heritage. The two women engaged in a conversation which Fulani summarised on Twitter, resulting in wider public attention. Fulani said that Hussey had questioned her origins by repeatedly asking where she was "really" from, which Fulani interpreted as racist.

Once Fulani's account of the conversation became public, Hussey stepped aside from her honorary role and apologised via the Buckingham Palace press office. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, declined to comment on the controversy specifically, but stated that the country had made "incredible" progress in tackling racism, adding that it was "never done" and must continue to be addressed. Some journalists defended her; her friend Petronella Wyatt offered a character reference.

On 16 December, Hussey and Fulani met at Buckingham Palace to address the incident, with Hussey offering her apologies in person, which Fulani accepted. A joint statement was released afterwards, reporting that the meeting was "filled with warmth and understanding" and that Fulani accepted the apology and "appreciates that no malice was intended".

Hussey had reportedly returned to performing official royal duties by February 2023, representing Princess Anne at a memorial service for Dame Frances Campbell-Preston.

Personal life On 25 April 1959, she married Marmaduke Hussey (later Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC) and had two children: James Arthur (b. 1961) and Katharine Elizabeth (b. 1964). Her daughter Katharine married Sir Francis Brooke Bt. and followed her mother into royal service, as one of the official Queen's Companions to Queen Camilla.

Honours

Having previously been appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 1971 New Year Honours, and Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) in the 1984 New Year Honours, Hussey was promoted to Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in the 2013 Birthday Honours. An armorial plate for her was installed at the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy in 2017.

In September 2015, she received the Sash of Special Category of the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest Mexican honour awarded to a foreigner. Country Date Appointment Ribbon Post-nominal letters