Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland

Harriet, Duchess of Sutherland, serves as Mistress of the Robes in Victoria's household, the senior lady closest to the new young queen. Composed, aristocratic and quietly shrewd, she offers guidance and steady friendship as Victoria navigates a court full of men eager to manage her, becoming one of the few people the queen seems genuinely to trust.

Clunie plays Harriet with a warmth that never tips into softness — she's diplomatic without being deferential, which makes her scenes with Victoria feel like an actual friendship rather than court decoration. The writing uses her as a barometer of sense amid the palace's intrigue, and Clunie's calm, watchful presence makes that role feel earned rather than functional.