Royal Households of the United Kingdom

Historical overview

The sovereign's domestics were his officers of state, and the leading dignitaries of the palace were the principal administrators of the kingdom. The royal household itself had, in its turn, grown out of an earlier and more primitive "thegnhood", and among the most eminent and powerful of the king's thegns were his "dishthegn," his "bowerthegn," and his horsethegn or staller. In Normandy at the time of the Conquest a similar arrangement, imitated from the French court, had long been established, and the Norman dukes, like their overlords the kings of France, had their seneschal or steward, their chamberlain and their constable. After the Norman Conquest, the ducal household of Normandy was reproduced in the royal household of England; and since, in obedience to the spirit of feudalism, the great offices of the first had been made hereditary, the great offices of the second were made hereditary also, and were thenceforth held by the grantees and their descendants as holder of tenure in grand serjeanty of the crown.

The consequence was that they passed out of immediate relation to the practical conduct of affairs either in both state and court or in the one or the other of them. The steward and Lord High Chamberlain of England were superseded in their political functions by the Justiciar and Treasurer of England, and in their domestic functions by the Lord Steward and Lord Chamberlain of the household. The marshal of England took the place of the constable of England in the royal palace, and was associated with him in the command of the royal armies.

The marshalship and the constableship became hereditary, and, although the Lord High Constable and Earl Marshal of England retained their military authority until a comparatively late period, the duties they had performed about the palace had been long before transferred to the master of the horse. In these circumstances the holders of the original great offices of state and the household ceased to attend the court except on occasions of extraordinary ceremony, and their representatives either by inheritance or by special appointment have ever since continued to appear at coronations and some other public solemnities, such as the State Opening of Parliament or trials by the House of Lords.

The earliest record relating to the English royal household is of the reign of Henry II and is contained in the Black Book of the Exchequer. It enumerates the various inmates of the king's palace and the daily allowances made to them at the period at which it was compiled. It affords evidence of the antiquity and relative importance of the court offices to which it refers, though it is silent as to the functions and formal subordination of the persons who filled them. In addition to this record, there are more recent but (for the most part) equally meagre, documents bearing on the constitution of the royal household, and extending, with long intervals, from the reign of Edward III to the reign of William and Mary. Among them, however, are what are known as the Black Book of the Household and the Statutes of Eltham, the first compiled in the reign of Edward IV and the second in the reign of Henry VIII from which a good deal of detailed information is available concerning the arrangements of the court in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Statutes of Eltham were meant for the practical guidance of those who were responsible for the good order and the sufficient supply of the sovereign's household at the time they were issued. The great officers of state and the household specifically mentioned are not all of them. We have named those only whose representatives are still dignitaries of the court and functionaries of the palace. If the reader consults Hallam (Middle Ages, i. 181 seq.), Freeman (Norman Conquest, i. 91 seq., and v. 426 seq.) and Stubbs (Const. Hist. i. 343, seq.), he will be able himself to fill in the details of the outline we have given above.

But the Black Book of the Household, besides being a sort of treatise on princely magnificence generally, professes to be based on the regulations established for the governance of the court by Edward III, who, it affirms, was "the first setter of certeynties among his domesticall meyne, upon a grounded rule" and whose palace it describes as "the house of very policie and flowre of England"; and it may therefore possibly, and even probably, take us back to a period much more remote than that at which it was actually put together.

Various orders, returns and accounts of the reigns of Elizabeth, James I, Charles I, Charles II, and William and Mary throw considerable light on the organisation of particular sections of the royal household in times nearer to our own. Moreover, there were several parliamentary inquiries into the expenses of the royal household in connection with the settlement or reform of the civil list during the reigns of George III, George IV and William IV. But they add little or nothing to our knowledge of the subject in what was then its historical as distinguished from its contemporary aspects. So much, indeed, is this the case that, on the accession of Queen Victoria, Chamberlayne's Present State of England, which contains a catalogue of the officials at the court of Queen Anne, was described by Lord Melbourne the prime minister as the "only authority" which the advisers of the crown could find for their assistance in determining the appropriate constitution and dimensions of the domestic establishment of a queen regnant.

In its main outlines the existing organisation of the royal household is essentially the same as it was under the Tudors or the Plantagenets. It is divided into three principal departments, at the head of which are the lord steward, the lord chamberlain and the master of the horse, and the respective provinces of which may be generally described as "below stairs," "above stairs" and "out of doors." The duties of these officials, and the various officers under their charge are dealt with in the articles under those headings. When the reigning sovereign is a queen, the royal household is in some other respects rather differently arranged from that of a king and a queen consort.

When there is a king and a queen consort there is a separate establishment "above stairs" and "out of doors" for the queen consort. She has a Lord Chamberlain's department of her own, and all the ladies of the court from the Mistress of the Robes to the Maids of Honour are in her service. At the commencement of the reign of Queen Victoria the two establishments were combined, and on the whole considerably reduced. On the accession of Edward VII the civil list was again reconstituted; and while the household of the king and his consort became larger than during the previous reign, there was a tendency towards increased efficiency by abolishing certain offices which were either redundant or unnecessary.

The three Great Officers of the Household

The Great Officers of the Household are, in order of seniority, the Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain and the Master of the Horse. Nowadays only the Lord Chamberlain fulfils an executive function; but the other two continue to have a ceremonial role, and are to be seen particularly on State occasions.

The Lord Chamberlain

As presently arranged, the Royal Household is coordinated by the part-time Lord Chamberlain (The Earl Peel GCVO PC DL since 12 October 2006), and organised into a number of functionally separate units.

Heads of departments

The Private Secretary to the Sovereign (Sir Christopher Geidt KCB KCVO OBE since 8 September 2007), under whom works the Private Secretary's Office, but who also has control of the Press Office, the Queen's Archives, and the Defence Services Secretary's Office, serves as principal advisor to the Sovereign and the principal channel of communication between the Sovereign and his or her Governments. Besides these, he also manages the Sovereign's official programme and correspondence

The Keeper of the Privy Purse has responsibility for the Sovereign's personal finances and those to do with semi-private concerns, along with, as Treasurer to the Queen oversight of the civil list. The two positions are held together and, since 2002, they have both been held by Sir Alan Reid GCVO.

The Master of the Household, since 2013, has been Vice Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt CB OBE who has overall responsibility for the domestic workings of the Household.

The Lord Chamberlain's Office, led by its Comptroller (since 2006 Sir Andrew Ford KCVO), is responsible for official royal occasions.

The Royal Collection is overseen by its Director (since May 2010, Jonathan Marsden LVO).

Each of these Heads of Department reports to the Lord Chamberlain, and is a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Committee.

Other units

The Royal Almonry, Ecclesiastical Household, and Medical Household are functionally separate but for accounting purposes are the responsibility of the Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the Queen.

The Crown Equerry has day-to-day operation of the Royal Mews, and is part of the Lord Chamberlain's Office. The other Equerries have a very different role: attending and assisting the Queen in her official duties from day to day. (Historically, they too were part of the Mews, but today they are entirely separate.)

The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood is also under the Lord Chamberlain's Office, as is the office of the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps.

The College of Arms has been a branch of the Royal Household since its incorporation in 1484 by King Richard III. The College is a corporation of thirteen royal heralds, overseen by the Earl Marshal, a hereditary office held by the Duke of Norfolk. The College is self-supporting and receives no funds from the Crown. The College holds jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to heraldry, genealogy and pedigrees in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and in some Commonwealth realms. The officers of the College accompany the Queen on two State occasions per year: the State Opening of Parliament and the Garter Service. They also assist in the organisation of royal ceremonial occasions such as coronations and state funerals.

Certain independent and honorific posts include Master of the Queen's Music, Piper to the Sovereign, Poet Laureate, and Astronomer Royal. The Queen's Bargemaster, the Keeper of the Jewel House, the Serjeants-at-Arms and the Warden and Marker of the Swans, perform less celebrated functions.

The offices of Treasurer of the Household, Comptroller of the Household and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household are held by senior government whips in the House of Commons. In the House of Lords, the Government Chief Whip is usually appointed Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms and the Deputy Chief Whip as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, with junior whips appointed as Lords-in-Waiting and Baronesses-in-Waiting. Occasionally these officers are called upon to undertake Household duties, especially the Vice-Chamberlain, who is responsible for writing regular parliamentary reports for the Queen.

The ladies-in-waiting, who are in personal attendance on the Queen on a daily basis, are formally styled either Ladies of the Bedchamber or Women of the Bedchamber. They are notionally overseen by the Mistress of the Robes – historically the senior female member of the Royal Household, but today a ceremonial position.

The Household includes a number of honorary military appointments: the Aides-de-Camp to the Queen (who are usually very high-ranking officers of the three armed services), the two Gold Sticks and the Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral of the United Kingdom. In addition, the two corps of royal bodyguards (the Gentlemen at Arms and the Yeomen of the Guard) are part of the Household.

Gentlemen Ushers are unpaid members of the Royal Household, often retired military officers, who provide occasional assistance as marshals at royal events. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is an important official in the Houses of Parliament; but technically he too is a member of the Royal Household (and acts as the Queen's messenger at the State Opening).

The royal residences (see list of British Royal Residences) in current use are cared for and maintained by the Royal Household Property Section directly from the grant-in-aid provided by Parliament, whereas Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House are privately owned and maintained. The unoccupied royal residences (including the Tower of London) are run by the Historic Royal Palaces Agency, which is self-funding.

Royal Household in Scotland

The Royal Household in Scotland includes offices of personal, honorary and state appointments.

The Great Officers of the Royal Household are:

1. Lord Steward
2. Lord Chamberlain
3. Master of the Household
4. Master of the Horse
5. Comptroller, joined with the Lord High Treasurer
6. King's Usher
7. Lord Lyon King of Arms

Ecclesiastical

Almoner

2 Chaplains

The Royal Household in Scotland also includes a number of other hereditary and non-hereditary offices:

Master Carver

Lord Lyon King of Arms and his heralds and pursuivants,

Governor of Edinburgh Castle

The Royal Company of Archers, the monarch's bodyguard

Dean of the Thistle, an officer of the Order of the Thistle

Dean of the Chapel Royal

Historiographer Royal

Her Majesty's Botanist

The Painter and Limner

Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland

Astronomer Royal for Scotland

A number of Hereditary Keepers of Palaces and Castles:

Falkland Palace – Ninian Crichton-Stuart

Stirling Castle – the Earl of Mar and Kellie

Dunstaffnage Castle – the Duke of Argyll

Dunconnel Castle – Sir Charles Edward Maclean of Dunconnel Bt, 2nd Baronet of Strachur and Glensluain, Baron Strachur, and 16th Hereditary Keeper and Captain of Dunconnel in the Isles of The Sea.

chaplains, physicians, surgeons, apothecaries

The Keeper of Dumbarton Castle and the Governor of Edinburgh Castle are non-hereditary offices.

Household of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

The Household of the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh provides the administrative support to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It is based at Buckingham Palace, and is headed by his Private Secretary — the Treasurer (part-time 1970–1976) was formerly the senior officer, but this post is now vacant. There are also an Equerry (a major or equivalent from any of the three armed services), and two temporary equerries (usually a Captain from the Royal Marines, and a Captain from the Grenadier Guards).

Treasurers to the Duke of Edinburgh

1984–1995: Sir Brian McGrath GCVO

Acting, 1982–1984: Sir Richard Davies KCVO CBE

1970–1982: Lord Rupert Nevill CVO JP DL KStJ

1959–1970: RAdm Sir Christopher Bonham-Carter CB GCVO

Acting, 1957–1960: Capt David Alexander RM

1952–1959: Lt Gen Sir Frederick Browning GCVO KBE CB DSO

Private Secretaries to the Duke of Edinburgh

2010—: Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell

1993–2010: Brig Sir Miles Hunt-Davis GCVO CBE

1984–1992: Sir Brian McGrath GCVO

Acting 1982–1984: Sir Richard Davies KCVO CBE

1976–1982: Lord Rupert Nevill CVO DL

1970–1976: Cdr William Willett OBE MVO DSC RN

May–November 1970: RAdm Sir Christopher Bonham-Carter GCVO CB

1957–1970: James Orr CVO

1947–1957: Lt Cdr Michael Parker CVO AM RN

Household of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall

The Household of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall is the organised office and support system for Charles, Prince of Wales, and his consort the Duchess of Cornwall. At the time of their 2009 Annual Review the Office of the Prince of Wales had the full-time equivalent of 121 staff. The head of the Household is the Principal Private Secretary, William Nye. Senior officials include the Private Secretary, Mark Leishman; the Deputy Private Secretary for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, a senior diplomat seconded from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, currently Scott Furssedonn-Wood, Master of the Household, Earl of Rosslyn; the Treasurer, Andrew Wright; Communications Secretary, Julian Payne; the Director of The Prince's Charities, Sir Tom Shebbeare KCVO; and the Equerry, Major Harry Pilcher.

In 2000, the Prince revived a tradition of having an official harpist, a role last seen under Queen Victoria. The first holder of the office was Catrin Finch, followed in 2004 by Jemima Phillips, and in 2007 by Claire Jones.

The Prince of Wales' Office is principally based at Clarence House, London, but also occupies rooms in the rest of St James's Palace. There are also offices for official staff at Highgrove House and Birkhall House, The Prince of Wales's private residences.

Most of the expenses incurred in operating the office comes from The Prince of Wales's private appanage, the Duchy of Cornwall. The only significant costs met by grant-in-aid provided by the Government is for the upkeep of Clarence House, and for official travel by air and rail, and for communications support.

Details of The Prince's Senior Staff are available in his Office's Annual Reports. The following titles all have "to/of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall" suffixed when written in full. Prior to the Prince's 2005 marriage, they were instead suffixed "to/of The Prince of Wales".

Principal Private Secretaries

2005–12 September 2011: Sir Michael Peat KCVO

12 September 2011–2015: William Nye

2015-present Clive Alderton

Private Secretaries

2009–2012: Clive Alderton, Private Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

2005–2011: Manon Williams, Private Secretary for Wales (part-time)

2009—: Mark Leishman, LVO (as "Senior Deputy Private Secretary" January – July 2009)

2005–2008: Elizabeth Buchanan CVO

2002–2005: Sir Michael Peat KCVO

1996–2002: Sir Stephen Lamport KCVO

1991–1996: Cdr Richard Aylard CVO RN

1990–1991: Maj Gen Sir Christopher Airy KCVO CBE

September 1985 – 1990: Sir John Riddell Bt CVO FRSA

Acting 1 April–September 1985 David Roycroft

1979–1985: Edward Adeane CVO

1970–1978: Sqn Ldr Sir David Checketts KCVO

Masters of the Household

2014-: Cdr The Earl of Rosslyn, CVO, QPM

2008-2014: Wing Cdr Richard Pattle

2006–2008: Lt Col Sir Malcolm Ross

2005–2006: Kevin Knott

Deputy Masters of the Household

2006—2009: Andrew Farquharson

Treasurers

2012-: Andrew Wright

2005—2012: Leslie Ferrar

—2005: Kevin Knott

Deputy Private Secretaries

2017-present: Scott Furssedonn-Wood

2014-2017: Jamie Bowden CMG OBE MVO

2012-2014: Simon Martin

2008—2013: Benet Northcote

2006–2008: Clive Alderton

2005–2008: Mark Leishman

2005–?: Mrs Manon Williams

2005: James Kidner MVO

2002–2005: Elizabeth Buchanan LVO

1998–2002: Mark Bolland

1993–1996: Stephen Lamport

1990–1993: Sir Peter Westmacott KCMG LVO

1988–1990: David Wright LVO

1986–1988: Col Humphrey Mews

Assistant Private Secretaries

?–present: Emily Cherrington

?–present: Sarah Kennedy-Good

2008: Shilpa Sinha

2008–present: Sophie Densham

2006–2008: Anita Kumar

2006–present: Jonathan Hellewell

2005–2007: Katy Golding

2005–present: Joy Camm & Amanda MacManus (each part-time)

2004–2005: Mrs Manon Williams

2003–2005: Mark Leishman

2003–2005: James Kidner

2002–2005: Paul Kefford

2000-2003: Nigel Baker

1994–1998: Mrs Manon Williams

Equerries

2013-current: Major David Bevan, Welsh Guards

2011–2013: Major Peter Flynn, Parachute Regiment

2008–2011: Major Will Mackinlay

2006–2008: Sqn Ldr Jayne Casebury, RAF

2004–2006: Wing Cdr Richard Pattle, RAF

2003–2004: Major Rupert Lendrum (Senior Equerry)

2002-2004: Lt-Cdr Alastair Graham

1999-2002: Lt-Cdr William Entwisle

1996–1999: Lt-Cdr John Lavery

1994–1996: Maj Patrick Tabor

1991–1994: Lt-Cdr Robert Fraser

1989–1991: Cdr Alastair Watson

1987–1989: Major Christopher Lavender

1986–1987: Lt-Col Brian Anderson

1984–1986: Major Jack Stenhouse

1982–1984: Major David Bromhead

-1982: Major Quentin Winter, Paras

c.79: Capt Anthony Asquith, RRW

1977-: Capt Christopher Haslett Elliott, RRW

c.76-1977: Capt Alun Jones Davies, RRW

1972-: Lt Gilbert Kerruish, RRW

1970–1972: Lt Hon Nicholas Soames, 11th Hussars

c.71: Lt David Wilson

Assistant Masters of the Household

2007–present: The Honourable Virginia Carington

as "Special Assistant" until 2007

as "Assistant Master of the Household" since 2007

Deputy Communications Secretary

Miss Eva Omaghomi

Household of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry

A part-time Private Secretary to Prince William and Prince Harry (James Lowther-Pinkerton MVO MBE Irish Guards (Rtd.)) was appointed in the Household of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in May 2005. In January 2009, a separate Household of Prince William and Prince Harry was established (formally "The Household of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales"), headed by Lowther-Pinkerton. Following Prince William's marriage, the Household also additionally serves his wife. The Household's offices are in St James's Palace; it shares funding and much of its staff with Clarence House. The Household is now formally "The Household of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales" and, as of 2011, had the equivalent of 7.8 full-time staff.

Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry: Major James Lowther-Pinkerton MVO MBE Irish Guards (Retd.) Lowther-Pinkerton left his post in September 2013, but intends to spend one day a week at St James’s Palace to act as a sounding board for the much younger members of staff who will take his place.

Private Secretary to Duke of Cambridge: Miguel Head; Private Secretary to the Duchess of Cambridge: Rebecca Deacon, Private Secretary to Prince Harry :Edward Lane Fox.

Advisor to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry: Sir David Manning GCMG CVO

Personal Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry: Helen Asprey

Communication Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry: Jason Knauf.

Deputy Communication Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry: Nick Loughran.

Official Spokesperson for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry: Paddy Harverson, also Communications Secretary at Clarence House

It was announced in June 2011 that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would temporarily move their official London residence to an apartment in Kensington Palace, a move that was completed in August of that year. The Duke and Duchess' primary residence continued to be the island of Anglesey in Wales, where the Duke served as a RAF search and rescue pilot. The couple previously shared an apartment at Clarence House with Prince Harry, which Prince Harry will retain. On 6 November 2011, it was announced that the Duke, Duchess and Prince Harry, along with the Queen and the Prince of Wales, had approved a plan that would have the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge permanently move to a larger apartment in Kensington Palace in 2013, after it is renovated. This apartment was previously occupied by the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon after their marriage in 1960. The apartment was retained by Princess Margaret after her divorce in 1978 and was her London residence until her death in 2002. Prince Harry will then move his official residence from Clarence House to the apartment vacated by the Duke and Duchess. In addition, once the move is complete, it is expected that their official household will also move to Kensington Palace from St James's Palace, although it is not known if the household will be split or remain shared. Until the moves were complete, their Household remained based at St James's Palace and continued to be shared.

In 2013 it was announced that Prince Harry had appointed former Household Cavalry captain Edward Lane Fox as his Private Secretary effective from July 2013. It was later announced in early May 2013 that the royal couple's private secretary, James Lowther-Pinkerton, intends to leave his post as Private Secretary for the private sector, and his position will be split with each member of the household receiving a Private Secretary.

In September 2013 Miguel Head became Private Secretary to the Duke of Cambridge and Rebecca Deacon assumeed the role of Private Secretary to the Duchess of Cambridge.

Ed Perkins left his post as Communication Secretary at the household in 2014. On 21 November 2014, the palace announced his replacement as Jason Knauf.

Household of the Duke of York

The Household of The Duke of York provides the administrative support for the Duke of York in his royal duties, along with his immediate family. From 1971 the Duke of York, then Prince Andrew (aged 11 years), had the assistance of one of The Queen's Equerries when required. The first was Sqn Ldr Peter Beer, who served until he was replaced by Maj George Broke Royal Artillery in 1974, and Lt Cdr Robert Guy RN in 1977.

It was only with the appointment in 1980 of Sqn Ldr Adam Wise, that the Prince could be said to have acquired the assistance of his own staff – although he was still shared with the Queen and Prince Edward. In 1983, Wise was promoted to Wing Commander and appointed Private Secretary to Princes Andrew and Edward, severing his link with The Royal Household. He left the Duke of York's service in 1987, when Lt Col Sean O'Dwyer was appointed – also jointly with Prince Edward.

The Duke of York is now assisted by a Private Secretary, Deputy Private Secretary, Assistant Private Secretary and Equerry. There are also an Office Assistant, and a handful of personal staff including cook and butler. The Duke of York's Office is currently based at Buckingham Palace, and the Duke has a residence at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, into which he moved during 2004, from Sunninghill Park, Ascot.

Private Secretaries to the Duke of York

2012–: (Mrs) Amanda Thirsk

2003–2012: (Maj) Alastair Watson LVO

2001–2003: Cdr Charlotte Manley LVO OBE RN

1990–2001: Capt Neil Blair CVO RN

1987–1990: Lt Col Sean O'Dwyer MVO DL Irish Guards (Retd.)

1983–1987: Wg Cdr Adam Wise LVO MBE

Assistant Private Secretaries to the Duke of York

?-Present: James Upsher

Household of the Earl and Countess of Wessex

The Household of the Earl and Countess of Wessex provides the administrative support to the Earl of Wessex, youngest son of the Queen, and to his wife, the Countess of Wessex. While their private residence is Bagshot Park, their office, headed by the private secretary, is based at Buckingham Palace.

Private Secretaries to the Earl of Wessex

2014-: Mr Tim Roberts

2002—2014: Brig John Smedley CVO

1987–2001: Lt Col Sean O'Dwyer LVO DL Irish Guards (Retd.)

1983–1987: Wg Cdr Adam Wise LVO MBE

Household of the Princess Royal

The Household of the Princess Royal provides the administrative support to Anne, Princess Royal, second child and only daughter of The Queen. While the Princess Royal's private residence is Gatcombe Park; her official London residence and office, headed by the Private Secretary, is based at St James's Palace.

Private Secretaries to the Princess Royal

2002—: Capt Nick Wright CVO RN

1999–2002: Col Timothy Earl OBE

1997–1999: Rupert McGuigan

1982–1997: Lt Col Sir Peter Gibbs KCVO

1976–1982: Maj Nicholas Lawson LVO

1974–1976: Maj Benjamin Herman MVO RM

Assistant Private Secretary

?—: Commander Anne Sullivan RN

Office Secretary

?—: Mrs. Isabella Ward

Household of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

Private Secretary to TRH Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at Kensington Palace: Mr Alistair Wood, LVO MBE 2004-2012

Household of the Duke and Duchess of Kent

Private Secretary to HRH Duke of Kent, KG at Wren House, Kensington Palace: Mr Nicholas Marden

Household of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

Private Secretary to HRH Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO at Kensington Palace: Mr Nicholas Chance, CVO

Household of Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy

Private Secretary: Mrs Diane Duke

Lady in Waiting: Mary Mumford, 15th Lady Herries of Terregles, DCVO

Lady in Waiting: Mrs Peter Afia LVO

Household of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra

King Edward VII (1841-1910) was created Prince of Wales shortly after his birth, and his household was known as the Household of the Prince of Wales from 1841. Upon his marriage in 1863, he and his wife shared the Household of the Prince and Princess of Wales until their accession as King and Queen in January 1901, but several appointments were to either the Prince or the Princess (e.g.. they each had separate Lords Chamberlain and private Secretaries). When he became King, his household was known as the Household of the Sovereign 1901-1910.

Queen Alexandra (1844-1925) received a separate household upon her husband´s accession, the Household of the Queen. From 1910, it was known as the Household of Queen Alexandra.

Household of King George V and Queen Mary

King George V (1865-1936) was created Duke of York in 1892, and received a separate household together with his brother. Courtiers appointed to assist the Prince George of Wales until that year had been part of his parents´ household. After his marriage to Princess Mary of Teck in 1893 they shared the Household of the Duke and Duchess of York.

On the accession of his father, King Edward VII in January 1901, George automatically inherited the dukedom of Cornwall and was known as the Duke of Cornwall and York until the following November, when he was appointed Prince of Wales. From 1901 until his accession in 1910 he and his wife shared the Household of the Prince and Princess of Wales, but several appointments were to either the Prince or the Princess.

When he became King, his household was known as the Household of the Sovereign 1910-1936.

Queen Mary (1867-1953) received a separate household upon her husband´s accession, the Household of the Queen. From 1936, it was known as the Household of Queen Mary.

Household of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother

This is an incomplete list of those who served in Queen Elizabeth's Household

1952–2002: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother's "Household of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother"

1936–1952: The Queen's "Household of The Queen"

1923-1936: Included in Prince Albert, Duke of York's "Household of The Duke of York"

Comptroller

1952–1953: Peter Townsend

1953–1974: Lord Adam Gordon

1974–2002: Sir Alastair Aird

Equerries

1950–1956: Capt Oliver Dawnay

1955–1956: Sir Martin Gilliat

1956–1984: Sir Francis Legh

1959–2002: Sir Ralph Anstruther Bt

1968–1970: Richard Jenkins

1984–2002: Maj George Seymour

1992–1994: Edward Dawson-Damer

1993–2002: Sir Alastair Aird

Extra Equerries

1953–2002: The Rt Hon The Lord Sinclair

1955–?: Sir Harvey Kearsley

1956: Maj Raymond Seymour

1956–1962: Capt Oliver Dawnay

1958–?: Maj Sir John Griffin

1964–1973: Alastair Aird

1995–2002: Capt Ashe Windham

1998–2002: Nicholas Assheton

Temporary Equerries

1955: Maj Raymond Seymour

1956–1958: Maj John Griffin

1958–1960: Capt William Richardson

1960–1964: Capt Alastair Aird

1980–1982: Capt Ashe Windham

1982–1984: Capt the Hon Jeremy Stopford

1984–1986: Capt Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton

1986-1988 Capt Niall Hall

1988-1990 Capt Giles Bassett

?-1994: Capt Edward Dawson-Damer

1994–?: Maj Colin Burgess

2000–2002: Capt Mark Grayson

Ladies-in-Waiting

1923–1926: Lady Katharine Meade

1926–1932: Lady Helen Graham

1932–1936: Lettice Bowlby

1985–2002: Jane Walker-Okeover

1990–2002: Lady Margaret Colville

1991–2002: Margaret Rhodes

1993–2002: Jennifer Gordon-Lennox

Extra Ladies-in-Waiting

1929–?: Lady Annaly

Ladies of the Bedchamber

1937–1941: Viscountess Halifax (extra 1946–?)

1937–1947: Lady Nunburnholme

1937–1972: Countess Spencer DCVO OBE

1937–1994: Viscountess Hambleden GCVO (as Dowager Viscountess from 1948)

1945–1967: Lady Harlech (extra 1941–1945; as Dowager Lady from 1964)

1947–1979: The Countess of Scarbrough as Dowager Countess from 1969

1973–2002: Lady Grimthorpe (daughter of the above Countess of Scarborough)

1994–2002: The Countess of Scarbrough (daughter-in-law of the above Countess of Scarborough)

Lord Chamberlain

1937–1965: Col The Earl of Airlie KT GCVO MC

1965–1992: The Earl of Dalhousie KT GCVO GBE MC DL

1992–2002: The Earl of Crawford KT GCVO PC

Mistress of the Robes

1937–1964: Her Grace The Dowager Duchess of Northumberland GCVO

1964–1990: Her Grace The Duchess of Abercorn DCVO

1990–2002: Vacant

Pages of Honour

1962–1964: James Charteris, Lord Neidpath

1964–1966: John Dalrymple-Hamilton

1966–1967: Valentine Cecil

1967–1969: Richard Scott, Lord Eskdaill (later Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry)

1969–1971: Simon Mulholland Esq.

1971–1973: Michael Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis (later Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne)

1973–1974: Gilbert Clayton Esq.

1974–1975: Colin Campbell-Preston

1975–1977: Charles Bruce, Lord Bruce

1977–1979: Gavin Rankin Esq.

1979–1982: Henry Beaumont

1982–1984: The Hon. Maurice Roche (later Baron Fermoy)

1984–1986: Andrew Hope, Viscount Aithrie (later Earl of Hopetoun)

1987–1989: Andrew Lillingston

1989–1991: Richard Lumley, Viscount Lumley (later Earl of Scarbrough)

1991–1993: John Carew-Pole

1993–1995: Arthur Wellesley, Earl of Mornington

1995–1998: The Hon. Thomas Lumley

1998–1999: Harry Bengough

1999–2002: Andrew Matheson

Press secretary

1956–2001: Sir John Griffin

Private secretaries

1937–1946: Lt Col Richard Streatfield

1946–1951: Maj Thomas Harvey

1951–1956: Capt Oliver Dawnay

1956–1993: Sir Martin Gilliat

1993–2002: Sir Alastair Aird

Assistant private secretaries

1953–1974: Lord Adam Gordon

1955–1956: Martin Gilliat

1956–1959: Francis Legh

1959–1964: Sir Ralph Anstruther Bt

1964–1973: Alastair Aird

1993–2002: Maj George Seymour

Treasurers

1937–1946: Sir Basil Brooke

1946–1960: Sir Arthur Penn

1961–1998: Sir Ralph Anstruther Bt

1998–2002: Nicholas Assheton

Women of the Bedchamber

1937–1939: Lady Helen Graham

1937–1960: Lady Katharine Seymour

1937–1961: Marion Hyde, Lady Hyde

1937–1944: Lettice Bowlby

1939–?: Lady Adelaide Peel

1944–1947: Lady Mary Herbert

1947–2001: Lady Jean Rankin

1951–1961: The Hon Olivia Mulholland

1960–1993: Lady Ruth Burke Roche, Baroness Fermoy

1961–1963: Lady Mary Harvey

1965–2002: Dame Frances Campbell-Preston

1981–2002: Lady Angela Oswald

Extra Women of the Bedchamber

1937–?: Lady Victoria Wemmys

1939–?: Lady Helen Graham

1944–?: Lettice Bowlby

1947–?: Lady Mary Herbert

1947: Lady Jean Rankin

1947–?: Alexandra Pelham, Lady Worsley CBE

1948–1951: Pamela Hore-Ruthven (later Cooper), Viscountess Ruthven of Canberra

1956–1960: The Dowager Lady Fermoy

1959–1981: Lady Elizabeth Basset

1960–?: Lady Katherine Seymour

Temporary Women of the Bedchamber

1963–1965: Lady Caroline Douglas-Home

Apothecaries

1954–?: Dr. John Nigel Loring

Physicians

1936–?: George Frederick Still

1936–?: Sir John Weir

1936–?: Henry Letheby Tidy

1936–?: Daniel Thomas Davies

Surgeons

1936–?: Sir Lancelot Barrington-Ward

1936–1946: Arthur Porritt

Surgeon-Apothecary

1956–?: Richard May Esq.

Honorific positions

Piper to the Queen Mother (1953-2002)