Office of the Chief Court Mistress

The Office of the Chief Court Mistress, also know as the Obersthofmeisterinamt, is the household of the Empress. Is composed by the hofmesterees ('Court mistresses'), who is a lady-in-waiting, second in rank after the Empress herself. The post has the responsibility for arranging the rota of attendance of the ladies-in-waiting on the Empress, along with various duties at state ceremonies. The Court Mistresses - there are always two mistresses - duties and responsibilities encompass the daily activities, such as state visits, organising events, everything relative to the etiquette and organization of the Household of the Empress, signalling the dates for audiences to the Empress and accompanying her in every ceremony ,also in charge of the clothes purveyors and directing the formal dressing of the Empress. The Department's headquarters is located within the grounds of the Hofbau Palace.