The author Greg King describes Churchill as "undoubtedly the most powerful and influential" of the queen's female appointees. One of her frequent roles was to deliver Victoria's messages to members of the household. The historian K. D. Reynolds writes that Churchill and other certain ladies "were used extensively by the queen in the regulation of the household, and by members of the household who wanted the queen's personal approval for a course of action". After Prince Albert's death, the widowed queen sought to remove herself from low-level interactions in her household. She preferred instead to direct her ladies to act as intermediaries to other members of the household, particularly men. These messages often concerned minor breaches in etiquette; hence Churchill was unpopular, though still respected. However, Reynolds does not believe her role extended beyond the royal household.