History

The Royal W: Who is Black Rod?

<![CDATA[The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is a Royal Household member. He is appointed by the Crown by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Order of the Garter. Black Rod, as he is known, is the Chief Gentleman Usher to the Sovereign and an officer of the Order of the Garter. The primary duties take place at the Palace of Westminster where he is Serjeant at Arms in attendance upon…
Read more
History

Official Royal Posts: The Royal Watermen

<![CDATA[Prior to the advent of trains, planes and automobiles, The Sovereigns mode of transportation was on the River Thames. Whether a State occasion or travel between the Tower of London, Windsor, Hampton Court, Westminster or Greenwich, the Thames was the means for…
History

Official Royal Posts: Lord Steward

<![CDATA[Since medieval times, the Lord Steward has been one of the three “Great Officers of the Household.” Until 1782, the office was one of great political significance and held Cabinet rank. After 1924, the office would change over as the government changed. The Lord Steward was at one time head of his own department of the Household that was in charge of the ‘below stairs’ officers…
Read more
History

Richard III's reinterment route is announced

<![CDATA[The route which Richard III’s remains will follow before being reinterred in Leicester Cathedral has now been revealed to the public. On Sunday 22nd March 2015, the last Plantagenet King will make his final journey before being laid to rest in the cathedral…
FeaturesInsight

Official Royal Posts: Lord Lieutenants

<![CDATA[The Lord Lieutenants are the representatives of the Crown for each county in the United Kingdom. They are chosen by The Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and may be peers or commoners. Lord Lieutenants were at first selected as part of the restructuring of local Government during King Henry VIII’s reign. The plan was for those chosen to take over the military…
Read more
The Kents

Double duties for The Duke of Kent

<![CDATA[The Duke of Kent performed not one but two official Royal duties on Wednesday 8th October as he stopped by at Preston Park Museum. The first of these duties was one that had the Duke clearly in his element as he officially named one of the two rowing boats…
FeaturesInsight

Official Royal Posts: Master of the Horse

<![CDATA[The honourary head of the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is known as the Master of the Horse. Today the Master of the Horse is mainly a ceremonial office and seldom is seen apart from on state occasions, and particularly when the Sovereign is mounted. Such…
FeaturesInsight

Official Royal Posts: The Earl Marshal

<![CDATA[The Earl Marshal is a Great Officer of State with a significant role in the arrangement of coronations and other State ceremonies. Upon the death of the Sovereign, he is in charge of organising the funeral as well as the accession and coronation of the new monarch. The Earl Marshal is a senior figure, which takes precedence after the Lord Great Chamberlain before all peers of his own…
Read more