Do You Actually Know Who the Queen's Friends Are? Here's Her Inner Circle

Updated on 11/3/2018 at 3:50 PM

When it comes to Queen Elizabeth, there are a few companions who are at her side in nearly every photo. There's her husband of 70 years, Prince Philip, and, of course, her famous and beloved corgis. Being royalty seems like it's a pretty lonely life — after all, who can really relate to being a literal queen with a history that spans being a WWII mechanic to the cool grandma we all wish we had? But even a queen makes time for her friends! Some of her earlier friendships, like with "Porchie," her lifelong friend and fellow horse enthusiast, have already been depicted in fiction like The Crown, but others remain much more low-key.

For the people, aristocratic and not, who form Queen Elizabeth's inner circle, loyalty, respect, and discretion are key, as with anyone who befriends members of the royal family. Many of her closest friends are tied to her through the extensive Windsor and Mountbatten family trees, while others began as total strangers. Get to know them all ahead.

Lady Celia Vestey

Lady Celia Vestey, a baroness, is in the Queen's inner circle along with her husband, Lord Samuel Vestey. Queen Elizabeth, a lifelong horse lover, appointed Lord Vestey as Master of the Horse to the Royal Household, and she is apparently very fond of the Vesteys' company. Lady Vestey's eldest son, The Honorable William Guy Vestey, was a Page of Honour to the Queen from age twelve to fifteen.

Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan

It can't be easy for royals to find friends who can relate to their unique positions and experiences. That's why it's no surprise that the Queen counts foreign royalty among her friends. Princess Sarvath and her husband, Prince Hassan of Jordan, have grown close to Queen Elizabeth, presumably able to connect on a different level over their shared experiences as royalty. Queen Elizabeth has even been a houseguest of the prince and princess! She particularly enjoys the couple's English residence in Wimbledon.

Lady Susan Hussey

As some of her lifelong friends have passed away, the Queen has begun to lean more on others. Among these now-crucial supporters is Lady Susan Hussey. As lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, Baroness Hussey has been a friend and companion since she joined the court in 1960 following the birth of Prince Andrew. She's the widow of Marmaduke Hussey, the former chairman of the BBC, who the Queen raised to the status of baron in 1996. The baroness also has a connection to the younger generation of royals: she's one of Prince William's godparents!

Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma

Known more informally as "Penny," Lady Mountbatten is not just a relative of the Queen's, but a member of her family. Lady Mountbatten's semiestranged husband is the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma — and if that surname sounds familiar, it's because it's the family name of Prince Philip. Lady Mountbatten's husband traces his title to his grandfather, Louis Mountbatten, who fans of The Crown might recognize as a significant character in the lives of Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family.

Lady Mountbatten's royal connection originally came from her husband, who attended the boarding school Gordonstoun with Prince Charles. However, she's become a favorite companion for the Queen as well as for Prince Philip, with whom she shares an interest in carriages.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

It's the most buzzed-about of the royal friendships: the growing connection between Queen Elizabeth and her newest granddaughter-in-law, the Duchess of Sussex. The Queen apparently finds the duchess's modern perspectives incredibly valuable as the royal family seeks to modernize its image and its relationship to the world at large. Despite the fact that Meghan is divorced, nonroyal, and American, the Queen has been quite supportive of her relationship with Prince Harry.

The two made their public debut together in the Summer of 2018 and instantly made headlines for their adorable rapport. And it doesn't hurt that the Queen's beloved corgis apparently adore Meghan!

Angela Kelly

The Queen's circle isn't exclusively royalty and nobility. In fact, one of her closest friends is about as socially ordinary as it gets. Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth's longtime assistant and dressmaker, is also one of her closest confidantes. She's a key part of the Queen's daily life and is entrusted with so much of her public appearance. Although she's a "commoner," the Queen is said to enjoy the company of nonaristocrats from the real world just as much as any royalty.

Lady Sarah Chatto

Lady Sarah is actually close family to the Queen: she's the daughter of Queen Elizabeth's late sister Princess Margaret. After losing Margaret in 2002, the Queen became especially close to Lady Sarah. She keeps an eye on the Queen, who still carries out plenty of duties despite already celebrating her 92nd birthday.

Like her father, the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, Lady Sarah is an artist; she's a painter using the nonroyal name "Sarah Armstrong-Jones." Another fun fact: she was briefly referenced in the second season finale of The Crown, when her mother Princess Margaret is pregnant with her second child; that child would be Sarah.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Let's be honest: Queen Elizabeth's children haven't exactly been lucky in marriage. Out of her four children, three ended up divorced (and two remarried), and the divorces were often scandalous. It's no wonder, then, that the Queen's favorite son- or daughter-in-law is the Countess of Wessex, who's married to her youngest son, Prince Edward.

It's not just the lack of scandal that has drawn the Queen to the countess. They share a love for horseback riding and often ride out together, and the Queen is said to appreciate Sophie's straightforward manner.