Tuesday 31 December 2013

LVO for Assistant Keeper of the Royal Archives

David James Ryan was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Director of Records and Assistant Keeper of the Royal Archives.

LVO for Private Secretary to Princess Alexandra The Honourable Lady Ogilvy

Mrs Diane Angela Duke DL was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for her service as Private Secretary and Comptroller to Princess Alexandra The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.

LVO for Assistant Private Secretary to The Earl and Countess of Wessex

Mrs Annabelle Mary Galletley MVO was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for her service as Assistant Private Secretary to The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Lady in Waiting to The Countess of Wessex.

LVO for Royal Protector

Inspector Iain MacRae MVO was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service to Royalty Protection.

LVO for Matron at King Edward VII’s Hospital

Miss Caroline Ann Cassels MVO was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for her service as Matron at King Edward VII’s Hospital, London.

LVO for Royal Protector

Chief Inspector John Derek Askew MVO was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service to Royalty Protection.

CVO for Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset

Mrs Valerie Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for her service as Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset.

CVO for New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary

Mr Phillippe Patrick O'Shea CNZM LVO was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his service as New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary.

CVO for Lady in Waiting to The Queen

Mrs Jennifer Susan Gordon Lennox LVO was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for her service as Lady in Waiting to The Queen.

CVO for Deputy Master of the Household

Mr Edward Charles Griffiths LVO was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his service as Deputy Master of the Household.

CVO for Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd

His Honour Gruffydd Huw Morgan Daniel was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his service as Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd.

CVO for Private Secretary to Prince Michael of Kent

Mr Nicholas John Lucas Chance LVO JP was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his service as Private Secretary to Prince Michael of Kent.

KCVO for Royal Doctor

Marcus Edward Setchell CVO was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his service as Surgeon-Gynaecologist to Her Majesty the Queen.

KCVO for Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire

Algernon Eustace Hugh Heber-Percy was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his service as Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire.

DCVO for Lady in Waiting to The Queen

The Honourable Annabel Alice Hoyer Whitehead CVO has been appointed Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) for her service as Lady in Waiting to The Queen.

DCVO for Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset

Lady Gass (Elizabeth Periam Acland Hood Gass) has been appointed Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) for her service as Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset.

KCB for The Queen’s Private Secretary

The Rt Hon Sir Christopher Geidt KCVO OBE has been appointed Knight Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB) for his service as Her Majesty The Queen's Private Secretary.

Two New Companions of Honour

Two new members of the Order of Companions of Honour (CH) have been announced in the New Year’s Honours they are as follows:

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CBE For services to Music

Baroness Onora Sylvia O'Neill of Bengarve CBE FRS FBA For services to Philosophy and Public Policy

Two New Members of the Order of the Thistle

Two new members of the The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT) have been announced in the New Year’s Honours they are as follows:

The Rt Hon The Earl of Home CVO CBE (David Alexander Cospatrick Douglas-Home)
The Rt Hon Robert Haldane Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin

New Members of the Order of Merit

Three new members of the Order of Merit (OM) have been announced in the New Year’s Honours and are as follows:

Sir Simon Denis Rattle CBE
Dr Martin Litchfield West FBA
Professor Sir Magdi Habib Yacoub

New Year’s Honours 2014

The New Year’s honours list has been announced honouring more than a thousand people across the commonwealth realms. Including well known people such as:

OM:

Sir Simon Rattle CBE

CH:

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies CBE

Knighthood:

Antony Gormley OBE

DBE:

Penelope Keith CBE DL
Angela Lansbury

CBE:

Carlos Acosta
Karren Brady
Michael Crawford OBE
Nicholas Parsons OBE

OBE:

Lynda Bellingham
Katherine Jenkins
Sandi Toksvig

MBE:

Ruth Jones
Kevin McCloud
Pete Tong

Sunday 29 December 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Suffolk

Lord Tollemache, Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Suffolk.

His Honour Judge John Edward Devaux
Sir Thomas Michael Sydney Hughes-Hallett KBE
Anthony James Moxon Lowther-Pinkerton Esq LVO MBE
Andrew William Kennedy Merriam Esq
Timothy Salvin Rowan-Robinson Esq

Wednesday 25 December 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of West Yorkshire

Dr Ingrid M Roscoe BA PhD FSA, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of West Yorkshire.

Mr Richard Robert Clough
Mr David Arthur Pearson JP

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Happy Holidays

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2014.

Heir to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha expecting Baby

The Hereditary Prince and Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha are expecting their first child in spring 2014.

Prince Hubertus, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is the eldest son and heir of Prince Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Prince Andreas is the Head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Prince Hubertus is the three time great grandson of Queen Victoria.

Thursday 19 December 2013

Miss Maud Windsor’s Christening

On the 16th of December Miss Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina Windsor daughter Lord & Lady Frederick Windsor was christened at Chapel Royal within St James palace.

Maud wore the same christening gown as Prince George of Cambridge which is a replica of the one commission by Queen Victoria in 1841.

Prince & Princess Michael of Kent attended along with their daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor.

New Aide-de-Camp to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Group Captain H. Smyth OBE DFC Aide-de-Camp to her household.

Friday 13 December 2013

LVO for Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps

Mr Charles Gray CMG has been appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps.

Thursday 12 December 2013

New Aide-de-Camp to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Group Captain R. C. Maddison OBE Aide-de-Camp to her household.

New Aide-de-Camp to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Group Captain M. W. J. Chappell Aide-de-Camp to her household.

Saturday 30 November 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Surrey

Dame Sarah Goad DCVO JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Surrey.

Dr Karin Englehart MBBS MRCP FFFLM DCH DMJ
Brigadier P. A. D. Evans OBE
Colonel A. P. Guthrie TD
Commander Susan Lochner JP RN
Hugh Riley JP

Thursday 28 November 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Norfolk

Richard Jewson JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Norfolk.

Mr Theodore Agnew
Mrs Charlotte Crawley
Mr David Mccleavy Hill
Doctor Paul Richards FSA FRSA
Lady Roberts (Georgina Roberts)

New Deputy Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan

On the 25th November 2013 Kathrin Thomas CVO, Lord-Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan commissioned the following to become a Deputy Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan.

Mr Peter James Vaughan QPM

Friday 22 November 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Northamptonshire

Lady Juliet Townsend LVO, Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Northamptonshire.

Dr S Martin Gaskell
Lady Kathryn Gayle Elizabeth Robinson
Mr David Eric Laing
Mrs Neelam Aggarwal-Singh

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Cambridgeshire

Hugh Duberly CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Cambridgeshire.

Colonel Roger George Hunter Herriot OBE
The Rt Hon. Sir James Edward Thornton Paice MP
Mr Andrew Henry Riddington JP
Mrs Penelope Anne Walkinshaw

Queen Appoints New Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO ADC Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2014.

Prince Edward will be the Queen’s personal representative within the Church of Scotland. As Lord High Commissioner Prince Edward will carry out the opening and closing addresses at the General Assembly.

Saturday 16 November 2013

New Privy Councillors of the United Kingdom

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following people members of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

Dame Victoria Sharp DBE
Sir Goffrey Vos
Sir Christopher Clarke
Lady Clark of Calton

Thursday 14 November 2013

High Sheriffs of England and Wales

On the 12th of November 2013 the following people were nominated as High Sheriff for the Counties of England and wales for 2014, 2015 and 2016 with the exception of Cornwall, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire who are appointed by the Dukes of Cornwall and Lancaster.

England


For the County of Bedfordshire

2014/2015: Mr Colin Osborne MBE
2015/2016: The Countess of Erroll
2016/2017: Mr Charles Edward Samuel Whitbread

For the Royal County of Berkshire

2014/2015: Mr Christopher Teik Kooi Khoo
2015/2016: Mr David Montagu Albermarle Bertie
2016/2017: Mrs Victoria Jane Fishburn

For the County of Buckinghamshire

2014/2015: Mr Joseph Gurney Barclay
2015/2016: Mrs Anna Francesca Skelton DL
2016/2017: Mrs Camilla Rose Soames

For the County of Cambridgeshire

2014/2015: Mrs Linda Alison Fairbrother
2015/2016: Captain Victor Harold Lucas RN DL
2016/2017: Mrs Sheila Barri Stuart

For the County of Cheshire

2014/2015: Mrs Susan Elisabeth Sellers
2015/2016: Mr Piers Sparrow
2016/2017: Mr Charles William Holroyd CBE

For the City of Bristol

2014/2015: Mr Michael Bothamley
2015/2016: Dr Rosalind Kennedy
2016/2017: Ms Helen Mary Wilde Redland

For the County of Cumbria

2014/2015: Mr Martyn Peter Telford Hart
2015/2016: Mr Samuel Alan Miles Rayner
2016/2017: The Reverend (Group Captain) Thomas Richard Lee (RAF rtd)

For the County of Derbyshire

2014/2015: Mr David Frederick Coleman QPM DL
2015/2016: Mr Oliver George Stephenson
2016/2017: Mrs Elizabeth Jane Fothergill

For the County of Devon

2014/2015: The Hon. John Rous Clovelly
2015/2016: Admiral Sir James Michael Burnell-Nugent KCB CBE
2016/2017: Mrs Angela Mary Gilbert

For the County of Dorset

2014/2015: Mrs Jane Stichbury CBE QPM
2015/2016: Mrs Jennifer Sheila Coombs
2016/2017: Mr Philip Henry Warr

For the County of Durham

2014/2015: Mr Gerald Charles Osborne
2015/2016: Mr James Mark Featherstone Fenwick
2016/2017: Mr Gerard Charles Joseph Salvin

For the County of East Riding of Yorkshire

2014/2015: Mrs Gail Stafford Mettyear
2015/2016: Mr James Lawrence Dick
2016/2017: Mr Thomas Gordon Martin

For the County of East Sussex

2014/2015: Mr Christopher John Gebbie OBE
2015/2016: Mrs Juliet Anne Smith
2016/2017: Mr Michael Jabez Foster

For the County of Essex

2014/2015: Mr Nicholas Charrington
2015/2016: Mr Simon Andrew Dalton Hall MBE
2016/2017: Mr Gerald Vincent Bodenham Thompson

For the County of Gloucestershire

2014/2015: Mr Thomas Alexander Fortescue Frost
2015/2016: Mr Roger John Head
2016/2017: The Rt Hon. The Countess Bathurst

For Greater London

2014/2015: Mr Kevin David McGrath
2015/2016: Mr William James Furber
2016/2017: Sir Nigel Knowles

For the County of Hampshire

2014/2015: Major General James Melville John Balfour CBE
2015/2016: Lady Portal
2016/2017: Mr Thomas Henry Floyd

For the County of Herefordshire

2014/2015: Major Patrick James Auchinleck Darling
2015/2016: Mr Edward Harley
2016/2017: Sir Robert James Rogers KCB

For the County of Hertfordshire

2014/2015: Mr Fergus John McMullen
2015/2016: Mr Jonathan Charles Gosselin Trower
2016/2017: Mr Stelio Haralambos Stefanou

For the County of Isle of Wight

2014/2015: Mrs Claire Elizabeth Bradley Locke
2015/2016: Mr Ronald Thomas Holland
2016/2017: Mr Robin Vandeleur Courage

For the County of Kent

2014/2015: Mr Hugo Mark Fenwick
2015/2016: Mr William Alexander
2016/2017: Mrs Kathrin Fiona Smallwood

For the County of Leicestershire

2014/2015: Mr Richard Charles Griffin Clowes
2015/2016: Mr Gordon Drake Arthur
2016/2017: Mr Surinder Sharma

For the County of Lincolnshire

2014/2015: The Earl of Yarborough
2015/2016: Air Vice Marshal Hector Gavin Mackay CB OBE AFC
2016/2017: Mrs Jill Gabriel Anne Mary Hughes

For the County of Norfolk

2014/2015: Lady Dannatt MBE
2015/2016: Mr Anthony John Habgood
2016/2017: Mr Nicholas Julian Hedley Pratt

For the County of Northamptonshire

2014/2015: Mrs Virginia Anne Burnett
2015/2016: Mr Ahmed Ibrahim Mukhtar
2016/2017: Mrs Caroline Cordelia Brocklehurst

For the County of Northumberland

2014/2015: Mr John McMorrough Carr-Ellison
2015/2016: Mrs Lucy Helen Maxwell Carroll
2016/2017: Mr William Browne-Swinburne

For the County of North Yorkshire

2014/2015: Mr Thomas James Ponsonby Ramsden
2015/2016: Lady Middleton
2016/2017: Mr Charles David Forbes Adam

For the County of Nottinghamshire

2014/2015: Mr Graham Cartledge CBE
2015/2016: Dr Jaswant Singh Bilkhu
2016/2017: Mrs Judith Lynn Naake

For the County of Oxfordshire

2014/2015: Mr Anthony John Stratton
2015/2016: Mr Thomas Henry Birch Reynardson
2016/2017: Mrs Sarah Jane Taylor

For the County of Rutland

2014/2015: Air Commodore Simon Miles David Williamson-Noble
2015/2016: Mr Andrew Jonathan Brown
2016/2017: Dr Sarah Haddon Furness

For the County of Shropshire

2014/2015: Mr Robert John Bowring Bland
2015/2016: Mr David Robert Stacey
2016/2017: Mrs Christine Mary Holmes

For the County of Somerset

2014/2015: Mr Richard David Ayshford Lloyd
2015/2016: The Hon. Mrs James Nelson
2016/2017: Mr Edward Bayntun-Coward

For the County of South Yorkshire

2014/2015: Mr John Clive Bramah
2015/2016: Mr John Raymond Holt
2016/2017: Mrs Julie MacDonald

For the County of Staffordshire

2014/2015: Mrs Ann Elizabeth Fisher
2015/2016: Mr John William Leavesley
2016/2017: Colonel David Lennox Leigh TD

For the County of Suffolk

2014/2015: Mr Nicholas John Wingfield Digby
2015/2016: Mrs Judith Veronica Shallow
2016/2017: Mr William Bruce Kendall

For the County of Surrey

2014/2015: Mr Peter John Gorringe Lee
2015/2016: Mrs Elizabeth Ann Stafford Kennedy
2016/2017: Mr Richard Whittington

For the County of Tyne and Wear

2014/2015: Mrs Ruth Thompson OBE
2015/2016: Miss Kathryn Lucy Hay Winskell
2016/2017: Mr John Dennis Mowbray OBE

For the County of Warwickshire

2014/2015: Mrs Clare Diana Hopkinson
2015/2016: Mrs Janet Alison Smith
2016/2017: Mr Richard Markham D’Aguilar Samuda

For the County of West Midlands

2014/2015: Mr Timothy Watts
2015/2016: Mr Edward Jonathan Turpie MBE
2016/2017: Mr Steven Hollis

For the County of West Sussex

2014/2015: Mr Jonathan Charles Lucas
2015/2016: Mrs Denise Lesley Anne Patterson
2016/2017: Mr Michael Prideaux

For the County of West Yorkshire

2014/2015: The Hon. Mrs Dent
2015/2016: Mr Edmund John Seward Anderson
2016/2017: Mr Christopher John Brown

For the County of Wiltshire

2014/2015: Mr Peter Addington
2015/2016: Lady Gooch
2016/2017: David Kim Hempleman-Adams LVO OBE DL

For the County of Worcestershire

2014/2015: Mr John Michael Waller Hogan
2015/2016: Sir Anthony Edward Winnington Bt
2016/2017: Sir Nicholas Anthony Hungerford Lechmere Bt


Wales 


For the County of Clwyd

2014/2015: Mr John David Meredith Jones
2015/2016: Mrs Janet Patricia Evans
2016/2017: Mr James Peter O’Toole

For the County of Dyfed

2014/2015: Mrs Rachel Elinor Jones
2015/2016: Mr James Edward Charles Raw-Rees
2016/2017: Mr James Wilfrid Poyer Lewis

For the County of Gwent

2014/2015: Mrs Gillian Ann Sheddick OBE
2015/2016: Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Simon Tuggey
2016/2017: Mr Anthony John Clay

For the County of Gwynedd

2014/2015: Mr David Murray Lea-Wilson
2015/2016: Dr Elizabeth Mary Nesbit Andrews MBE
2016/2017: Mr Peter Harlech Jones

For the County of Mid Glamorgan

2014/2015: Mrs Elizabeth Singer
2015/2016: Mrs Jayne Ann James
2016/2017: Mr Gwynfryn John George

For the County of Powys

2014/2015: Mr Philip Bowen
2015/2016: Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hugh Ledston Lewis (Retd)
2016/2017: Mrs Ann Tudor

For the County of South Glamorgan

2014/2015: Mr David Ward Jenkins
2015/2016: Professor Heather Vivienne Stevens CBE
2016/2017: Professor John David Williams OBE

For the County of West Glamorgan

2014/2015: Mr Martyn Spencer Jenkins
2015/2016: Mr Robert Michael Redfern
2016/2017: Professor Donna May Mead OBE

Tuesday 12 November 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Rutland

Laurence Howard OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Rutland.

Mrs Jane Caroline Clayton-Jones
Mr Timothy Frederick Hart
Mr Bartle Grimston Hellyer

Friday 8 November 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the West Midlands

Paul Sabapathy CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the West Midlands.

Dame Christine Braddock DBE
Mr Keith George Bradshaw
Dr John Dixon Craggs
Mr Christopher John Ham CBE
Mrs Lynda Margaret Hopkins LVO
Ms Beverly Isadore Lindsay OBE OD
Colonel George Robert Marsh TD
Mr Paul Thandi

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

Sir Tony Baldry MP

New Aide-de-Camp to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Group Captain A. M. Sansom Aide-de-Camp to her household.

Sunday 3 November 2013

New Honorary Nurse to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen appointed Colonel D. C. Bates ARRC to be an Honorary Nurse to Her Majesty the Queen in succession to Colonel P. Childerley.

New Aide-de-Camp to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Colonel T. J. Murray Aide-de-Camp to her household in succession to Colonel C. B. Bird.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Essex

Lord Petre, Lord-Lieutenant of Essex commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Essex.

Dr James Bettley
Mr Adrian Corder-Birch
Mrs Catharine Hutley
Dr Simon Lyster
Mr Rupert Marks

Thursday 24 October 2013

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

Lady Justice Macur DBE (Dame Julia Wendy Macur DBE)

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

The Hon. Lord Drummond Young (James Edward Drummond Young)

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Prince George of Cambridge’s Christening

Prince George of Cambridge’s christening will be held today at Chapel Royal within St James’s Palace. The service will take place at 15:00 BST and last about 45 minutes.

The service will be officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby. The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry will be attending the service. Clarence House has announced the photographer’s name as Jason Bell Esq.

Prince George will be wearing a replica of a christening gown commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1841 for her daughter Victoria.

Clarence House has announced a total of seven Godparents which are listed below:

Zara Tindall MBE
Emilia d’Erlanger
Hugh van Cutsem
Jamie Lowther Pinkerton LVO MBE
Oliver Baker
Hugh Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor
Julia Samuel

Queen Revokes Honour for Disgraced TV Star

The Queen has accepted the Honours Forfeiture Committee’s advice regarding the cancellation and annulment of the honour awarded to the following person.

James Stuart Hall to be stripped of an OBE awarded on 31st December 2011 after being convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault.

Monday 21 October 2013

New Lord Lieutenant for Midlothian

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Sir Robert Maxwell Clerk Bt OBE DL to become Lord-Lieutenant of Midlothian in succession of Patrick Prenter CBE who retired on the 18th of October 2013.

Thursday 17 October 2013

Queen Revokes Honour

The Queen has accepted the Honours Forfeiture Committee’s advice regarding the cancellation and annulment of the honour awarded to the following person.

Carmel Emmanuel Jones to be stripped of an MBE awarded on 30th December 1989 after being banned from running a financial institution by Financial Services Authority due to misconduct.

MVO for Prince Philip’s Equerry

Squadron Leader Dale White has been appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his service as Equerry in Waiting to The Duke of Edinburgh.

Queen adds Bar to RVM

Mr Keith Rembridge RVM has been awarded a bar to his Royal Victorian Medal in Silver (RVM) for his service at the Court Post Office.

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

Alistair Burt MP

Life Peerage for Former Lord Mayor of Liverpool

Michael John Storey CBE has been granted the title of Baron Storey, of Childwall in the City of Liverpool. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Saturday 12 October 2013

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

Richard Ottaway MP

Former Minister Removed from the Privy Council

Former Minister of State for Europe Mr Denis MacShane has been removed by Her Majesty the Queen from the Privy Council.

Mr MacShane resigned as a Member of Parliament after the Parliaments Standards and Privileges Committee found 19 false invoices for expenses. Mr MacShane has been charged with False Accounting under the Theft Act 1968 and now awaits trial.

Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council have taken recent events into account and have ordered his name to be removed from the list of Members of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

Wednesday 9 October 2013

New Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough Londonderry

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Dr Angela Garvey DL to become Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry in succession of Sir Donal Keegan KCVO OBE FRCP who retired on the 8th of October 2013.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Life Peerage for the New Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

The Rt Hon Sir Roger John Laugharne Thomas has been granted the title of Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd, of Cwmgiedd in the County of Powys.

Life Peerage for Former Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party

Ms Annabel MacNicholl Goldie DL MSP has been granted the title of Baroness Goldie, of Bishopton in the County of Renfrewshire. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Life Peerage for Chairman of JCB

Sir Anthony Paul Bamford DL has been granted the title of Baron Bamford, of Daylesford in the County of Gloucestershire and Wootton in the County of Staffordshire. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Life Peerage for Chairman of the Ministry of Sound Group

The Hon. James Rudolph Palumbo has been granted the title of Baron Palumbo of Southwark, of Southwark in the London Borough of Southwark. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords for the Liberal Democrats.

Life Peerage for Chairman of the British Red Cross

Sir Charles Lamb Allen CBE has been granted the title of Baron Allen of Kensington, of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords for the Labour Party.

Friday 4 October 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Dorset

Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers, Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Dorset.

Miss Kathryn Adie OBE
Richard Arthur Dimbleby Esq
Mrs Pam Donnellan
Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas KCB DSC ADC
The Hon. Timothy John Palmer
John Roland Raymond Esq
Russell Leslie Lucas-Rowe Esq

Thursday 26 September 2013

Life Peerage for Former Deputy Mayor of London

Ms Jennifer Helen Jones AM has been granted the title of Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, of Moulsecoomb in the County of East Sussex. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords for the Green Party.

Life Peerage for Former Leader of Trafford Council

Ms Susan Frances Maria Williams has been granted the title of Baroness Williams of Trafford, of Hale in the County of Greater Manchester. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Tuesday 24 September 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of Renfrewshire

Guy Clark, Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of Renfrewshire.

Ms Sara Moreland Bishop
Ms Beverley Craig
Hugh McKechnie Currie Esq

Life Peerage for Former Deputy General Secretary of the Labour party

Alicia Pamela Kennedy (Lady Kennedy) has been granted the title of Baroness Kennedy of Cradley, of Cradley in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords for the Labour Party.

Life Peerage for Conservative Party Envoy to the Trade Unions

Richard Andrew Balfe Esq has been granted the title of Baron Balfe, of Dulwich in the London Borough of Southwark. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Monday 23 September 2013

Life Peerage for CEO of City Refrigeration Holdings

Sir William Haughey OBE has been granted the title of Baron Haughey, of Hutchesontown in the City of Glasgow. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords for the Labour Party.

Life Peerage for President of the Welsh Liberal Democrats

Ms Christine Mary Humphreys has been granted the title of Baroness Humphreys, of Llanrwst in the County of Conwy. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for Former Deputy Chief of Staff to Nick Clegg

Ms Alison Mary Suttie has been granted the title of Baroness Suttie, of Hawick in the Scottish Borders. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for Founder of the Rumi Foundation

Rumi Verjee CBE has been granted the title of Baron Verjee, of Portobello in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for Treasurer of the Conservative Party

Howard Darryl Leigh Esq has been granted the title of Baron Leigh of Hurley, of Hurley in the Royal County of Berkshire. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Life Peerage for Honorary Vice President of the Conservative Women's Organisation

Fiona Ferelith Hodgson (Lady Hodgson) CBE has been granted the title of Baroness Hodgson of Abinger, of Adinger in the County of Surrey. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Thursday 19 September 2013

Life Peerage for Paralympic Swimmer

Christopher Holmes MBE has been granted the title of Baron Holmes of Richmond, of Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Life Peerage for Former MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

Jeremy Purvis Esq has been granted the title of Baron Purvis of Tweed, of East March in the Scottish Borders. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police

Brian Leonard Paddick Esq has been granted the title of Baron Paddick, of Brixton in the London Borough of Lambeth. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for Margaret Thatcher’s Political Secretary

Sir Stephen Ashley Sherbourne CBE has been granted the title of Baron Sherbourne of Didsbury, of Didsbury in the City of Manchester. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Wednesday 18 September 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Hampshire

Dame Mary Fagan DCVO JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Hampshire.

Giles Marshall Hallam Mills Esq
Nigel Guthrie Mcnair Scott Esq
Sir James Jervoise Scott Bt
Timothy Donald Weale Esq

New Aide-de-Camp to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Colonel James R.H. Stopford Aide-de-Camp to her household.

Friday 13 September 2013

Life Peerage for Former MP for Fulham

Matthew Hadrian Marshall Carrington Esq has been granted the title of Baron Carrington of Fulham, of Fulham in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Life Peerage for Executive Editor of The Times

Daniel William Finkelstein OBE has been granted the title of Baron Finkelstein, of Pinner in the County of Middlesex. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Thursday 12 September 2013

Life Peerage for Former Tesco Executive

Dame Lucy Jeanne Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG has been granted the title of Baroness Neville-Rolfe, of Chilmark in the County of Wiltshire. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Life Peerage for Former Leader of Birmingham City Council

Michael John Whitby Esq has been granted the title of Baron Whitby, of Harborne in the City of Birmingham. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Gloucestershire

Dame Janet Olive Trotter DBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Gloucestershire.

Ms Margaret D Austen
Dr Sally Byng OBE
Ms Ruth FitzJohn
Ms Caroline Duckworth

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Life Peerage for Former Leader of Somerset County Council

Catherine Mary Bakewell MBE has been granted the title of Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville, of Hardington Mandeville in the County of Somerset. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for Former Leader of the Welsh Conservative Party

Nicholas Henry Bourne Esq has been granted the title of Baron Bourne of Aberystwyth, of Aberystwyth in the County of Ceredigion and of Wethersfield in the County of Essex. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Life Peerage for the Mother of Stephen Lawrence

Doreen Delceita Lawrence OBE has been granted the title of Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, of Clarendon in the Commonwealth Realm of Jamaica. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords for the Labour Party.

Life Peerage for Former Legal Services Ombudsman

Zahida Parveen Manzoor CBE has been granted the title of Baroness Manzoor, of Knightsbridge in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

New Honorary Nurse to the Queen

On the 5th of August 2013, Her Majesty the Queen appointed Group Captain P.M. Spragg to be an Honorary Nurse to Her Majesty.

Monday 9 September 2013

Life Peerage for Treasurer of the Liberal Democrat Party

Sir Ian William Wrigglesworth has been granted the title of Baron Wrigglesworth, of Norton on Tees in the County of Durham. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for one of Labour’s Top Advisors

Jonathan Neil Mendelsohn Esq has been granted the title of Baron Mendelsohn, of Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords for the Labour Party.

Friday 6 September 2013

Life Peerage for Former Head of Communications for the Liberal Democrats

Ms Rosalind Mary Grender MBE has been granted the title of Baroness Grender, of Kingston upon Thames in the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat.

Life Peerage for Former MP of Orpington

John Rhodes Horam Esq has been granted the title of Baron Horam, of Grimsargh in the County of Lancashire. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Cumbria

Mrs Claire Theresa Hensman, Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Cumbria.

James William Scobie Newcome Esq
Thomas Michael McMullen MBE
Mrs Jane Hasell-McCosh

Saturday 31 August 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of Greater Manchester

Warren James Smith KStJ JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of Greater Manchester.

Dr Syed Nayyer Abbas Abidi MBE
Mrs Susan S Allison
Ms Melanie Bryan OBE
Mrs Anna Reeves

Tuesday 27 August 2013

New Deputy Lieutenant for Roxburgh, Ettrick & Lauderdale

The Hon. Gerald Maitland-Carew, Lord-Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick & Lauderdale has commissioned the following to become a Deputy Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick & Lauderdale.

Mr John Philip Scott FCII FCSI

Saturday 24 August 2013

Friday 16 August 2013

It’s a girl for Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Frederick Windsor

On the 15th of August 2013 Lady Windsor gave birth to a baby Girl weighing 7lb at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles, USA. Lord Frederick Windsor was at the birth.

The baby’s name is Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina Windsor she is currently 42nd in line to the throne of Britain and the Commonwealth realms.

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are said to be delighted with the news of their first grandchild.

Monday 12 August 2013

HRH Prince Johan Friso of Orange-Nassau (1968-2013)

Today HRH Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David Prince of Orange-Nassau brother to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands sadly passed away.

The Prince had been in a coma since 17th February 2012 when he was in an avalanche that had buried him causing significant brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

After initial treatment in Austria he was sent to Wellington Hospital in London and on the 9th July 2013 he was moved to Huis ten Bosch Palace in the Netherlands were passed away following compactions.

My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Devon

Sir Eric Dancer KCVO CBE JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Devon commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Devon.

Mr Philip Bostock
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope GCB OBE

Thursday 1 August 2013

Working Peer List 2013

Her majesty the Queen has announced her intention to bestow Life Peerages on following people who will be working peers within the House of Lords for their respected party’s.

Conservative Party

Mr Richard Balfe
Sir Anthony Paul Bamford DL
Mr Nicholas Bourne
Mr Matthew Carrington
Mr Daniel Finkelstein OBE
Miss Annabel Goldie DL MSP
Lady Fiona Hodgson CBE
Mr Christopher Holmes MBE
Mr John R Horam
Mr Howard Leigh
Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG
Sir Stephen Sherbourne
Mr Michael Whitby
Ms Susan Williams

Green Party

Ms Jenny Jones AM

Labour Party

Sir Charles Allen CBE
Sir William Haughey OBE
Lady Alicia Kennedy
Ms Doreen Lawrence OBE
Mr Jonathan Mendelsohn

Liberal Democrat Party

Ms Catherine Mary Bakewell MBE
Ms Rosalind Grender MBE
Ms Christine Mary Humphreys
Ms Zahida Manzoor CBE
Mr Brian Paddick
The Hon. James Palumbo
Mr Jeremy Purvis
Ms Alison Suttie
Mr Rumi Verjee CBE
Sir Ian Wrigglesworth

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Disgraced Former minister Chris Huhne’s ex-wife stripped of CB

The Queen has accepted the Honours Forfeiture Committee’s advice and decreed that Mrs Vicky Pryce is to be stripped of the Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) awarded to her on the 13 June 2009 following her conviction for perverting the course of justice. Her honour has been cancelled and annulled and her name shall cease to be on the register of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

RVM (Gold) for Mr John Kerr

Mr John Trodden Kerr RVM has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Gold (RVM) for his service as Leading Palace Attendant at Windsor Castle.

MVO for Royal Chauffeur

Mr Daniel Martell RVM BEM has been appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his service as Deputy Head Chauffeur to the Royal Household.

LVO for Mr Alan Ryan

Mr Alan Peter Ryan MVO has been appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Assistant Property Manager at Buckingham Palace.

KCVO for Clerk of the Duchy of Lancaster

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Mr Paul Robert Virgo Clarke CVO Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his service as Clerk of the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Monday 29 July 2013

MVO for Queen’s Gurkha Officer

Captain (QGO) Trilochan Gurung of The Royal Gurkha Rifles has been appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his service as Queen’s Gurkha Officer.

MVO for Queen’s Gurkha Officer

Captain (QGO) Devendra Ale of The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment has been appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his service as Queen’s Gurkha Officer.

Sunday 28 July 2013

DCVO for Queen’s Librarian

The Hon. Lady Roberts CVO has been appointed Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) for her service as Librarian and Curator of the Print Room to the Royal Household.

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Buckinghamshire

Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher Bt JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Buckinghamshire.

Mrs Caroline Bridget Abel Smith OBE
Mrs Alison Carolyn Cumming
Mr John Evan Moffoot MBE
Brigadier William Joseph O’Leary TD ADC
Mrs Alison Jane Phillips OBE

Wednesday 24 July 2013

The Prince of Cambridge’s name announced

Kensington Palace has announced the name of the Royal baby as His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.

New Usher of the Purple Rod

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Dame Amelia Chilcott Fawcett DBE Lady Usher of the Purple Rod of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in succession to Sir Alexander Michael Graham GBE who has retired.

New Chief of the Royal Air Force

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE has been appointed Chief of Air Staff and Air Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty the Queen in succession to Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB ADC.

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear

Nigel Sherlock OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear has appointed the following Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County of Tyne and Wear.

Gavin McFarlane Black Esq

Monday 22 July 2013

It’s a Boy for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy at 16:24 GMT weighing 8lb 6oz at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington in London. The Duke of Cambridge was at the birth. Both mother and baby are doing well. A 41 gun salute will be fired in honour of the Royal birth.

Life Peerage for the Outgoing Governor of the Bank of England

Sir Mervyn Allister King GBE has been granted the title of Baron King of Lothbury, of Lothbury in the City of London. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Crossbencher.

Wednesday 17 July 2013

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

Mr John Hayes MP

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

The Hon. Lord Justice Fulford (Sir Adrian Bruce Fulford)

Monday 15 July 2013

Life Peerage for Government's New Trade Minister

Ian Livingston has been granted the title of Baron Livingston of Parkhead, of Parkhead in the City of Glasgow. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Conservative.

Friday 12 July 2013

New Member of the Queen’s Body Guard

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Colonel Timothy Wilson to be a member of Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms in succession to Colonel Michael Robertson who has retired.

New Extra Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed The Very Reverend John Ballantyne Cairns KCVO to be an Extra Chaplain to Her Majesty within the Royal Ecclesiastical Household of Scotland.

New Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed the Reverend John Chalmers to be a Chaplain to Her Majesty within the Royal Ecclesiastical Household of Scotland.

Thursday 11 July 2013

New Aide-de-Camp General to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed General Sir Richard Lawson Barrons KCB CBE Aide-de-Camp General to her household.

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire

Jennifer, Lady Gretton JP, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire has appointed the following Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County of Leicestershire.

Colonel Raeburn Murray Longair Colville TD DL

Monday 8 July 2013

Zara Phillips is expecting a baby

Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen’s granddaughter Mrs Zara Tindall MBE and her husband Mr Mike Tindall MBE are expecting their first baby in the New Year.

Zara’s parents Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and her ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips are said to be delighted with the news.

This wonderful news has come just days before the expected birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby and the future heir to the throne.

Sunday 7 July 2013

New Dean for the Queen’s Chapel in Scotland

The Very Reverend Professor Iain Torrance has been appointed the new Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland. In succession to The Very Reverend John Cairns KCVO who has retired.

KCVO for the Queen’s Chaplain

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed The Very Reverend John Cairns Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his service as Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland.

Thursday 4 July 2013

King Albert II of Belgium to Abdicate

In an address to the nation King Albert announced he is abdicating the Belgian Throne in favour of his son Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant.

The Act of Abdication will be signed on the 21st of July 2013 Belgium’s National Day.

Wednesday 3 July 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of Ayrshire and Arran

John Lawrence Duncan QPM, Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of Ayrshire and Arran.

The Very Reverend Dr David William Lacy
Mrs Evelyn McCann
Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald
Mr William Stafford

Saturday 29 June 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the Preserved County of Gwynedd

His Honour Huw Morgan Daniel KstJ, Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the Preserved County of Gwynedd.

Mr Ernest Komla Nenonenemako Ahiaku
Mr Edmund Seymour Bailey

Thursday 27 June 2013

Sheriffs of the City of London for 2013/14

The City of London has elected the following to act as Sheriffs of the City of London for 2013/14.

Mr Robert Adrian Joseph Waddingham
Sir Paul Judge

New Commander of the Household Division

Major-General Edward Alexander Smyth-Osbourne CBE has been appointed Major-General Commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding the London District.

Maj-Gen Osbourne will be in charge of all army units within London and be based at Horse Guards.

Maj-Gen Osbourne succeeds Major-General Sir George Pemberton Ross Norton KCVO CBE who is taking on the role of Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps.

KCVO for Commander of the Queen’s Guard

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Major-General George Pemberton Ross Norton CBE Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his service as Major-General Commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding the London District.

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Queen Present’s the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

Her Majesty the Queen has presented the first Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering to pioneers of the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW.). The five winners will share the one million pound prize money. The following are winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering for 2013.

Marc Andreessen
Sir Tim Berners-Lee OM KBE
Vinton Cerf
Robert Kahn
Louis Pouzin

Monday 24 June 2013

The Emir of Qatar will Abdicate Tomorrow

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Emir of Qatar has confirmed he is abdicating the Qatari Throne in favour of his son Crown Prince Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Sheikh Hamad will address the nation of Qatar at 08.00 local time (05.00 GMT) tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the 25th June 2013 will also be a national holiday in Qatar to mark the abdication.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Queen’s Horse wins the Gold Cup

The Queen’s horse “Estimate” has won the gold cup at Royal Ascot today the four year old filly ridden by Ryan Moore and trained Sir Michael Stoute beat “Simenon” to the post becoming the first horse owned by a reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup. The Queen’s son The Duke of York presented her with the Gold Cup. The Queen has had a total of 22 winners at Royal Ascot.

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Kent

Viscount De L’Isle MBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Kent commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Kent.

Major (Retd) Dennis Bradley BEM
Mrs Rosemary Dymond
Colonel Jonathan Charles Gunnell OBE
Mr Philip Hugh Harland
Mrs Marion Frances Regan
Dr Bhargawa Vasudaven

Sunday 16 June 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Leicestershire

Lady Gretton DStJ JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Leicestershire.

Mrs Elizabeth Jane Martin
Dr Bridget Ellen Towle CBE
Mr Ramanbhai Chhotubhai Barber MBE

Saturday 15 June 2013

MVO for Equerry to the Prince of Wales

Major Peter Antony Fynn has been appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his service as Equerry to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

MVO for Head Butler to the Prince of Wales

Mr Bernard Patrick John Flannery RVM has been appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his service as Head Butler to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall’s Household.

MVO for Former Secretary to Princess Alexander

Mrs Jennifer Ruth Chapman has been appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for her service as Secretary to Princess Alexander The Lady Ogilvy.

LVO for Secretary to the Duke of York

Mrs Amanda Jane Thirsk has been appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for her service as Private Secretary to the Duke of York.

LVO for Keeper of the Queen’s Stamps

Mr Michael Richard Sefi has been appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection.

LVO for Queen’s Chef

Mr Mark Fromont MVO RVM has been appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Head Chef in the Royal Household.

CVO for Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire

Major Alexander Richard Trotter has been appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his service as Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire.

CVO for Lord Lieutenant of Fife

Mrs Catherine Margaret Dean has been appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for her service as Lord Lieutenant of Fife.

KCVO for Lord Lieutenant of Devon

Mr Eric Dancer CBE has been appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his service as Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

GCVO for Lady in Waiting to the Queen

The Hon. Dame Mary Anne Morrison DCVO has been appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) for her service as Lady in Waiting to Her Majesty the Queen.

GCVO for Lady in Waiting to the Queen

The Lady Susan Katharine Hussey DCVO has been appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) for her service as Lady in Waiting to Her Majesty the Queen.

Two New Companions of Honour

Two new members of the Order of Companions of Honour (CH) have been announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and are as follows:

The Rt Hon. Sir Walter Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP for services to Public and Political Service

Sir Nicholas Serota for services to Art

Queen’s Birthday Honours 2013

The Queen’s Birthday honours list has been announced honouring more than a thousand people across the commonwealth realms. Including well known people such as

Sir Menzies Campbell - CH
Brendan Barber - Knighthood
Anish Kapoor - Knighthood
Tony Robinson - Knighthood
Rowan Atkinson - CBE
Claire Bloom - CBE
Roger Deakins - CBE
Hilary Devey - CBE
Julian Glover - CBE
Grayson Perry - CBE
Clare Balding - OBE
Jackie Collins - OBE
Dylan Jones - OBE
Paul Lawrie - OBE
Kate Mosse - OBE
Adele - MBE
Rob Brydon - MBE
PJ Harvey - MBE
Aled Jones - MBE

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Queen Revokes Bankers Knighthood

Her Majesty the Queen has issued Letters Patent annulling the honour of Knight Bachelor awarded on 6th December 2006 to Mr James Robert Crosby former chief executive of HBOS. Mr Crosby offed to renounce his knighthood following a damming report into the collapse HBOS and his role as chief executive.

Royal Chancellor for Aberdeen University

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay has become the first female chancellor of Aberdeen University and the first member of the Royal family to hold the post. The Duchess said she felt honoured to be made a chancellor of a university since she left school at sixteen. The Duchess has succeeded Lord Wilson of Tillyorn KT GCMG PRSE who retired after serving as chancellor for fifteen years.  

Tuesday 11 June 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of West Glamorgan

D Byron Lewis CStJ FCA, Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of West Glamorgan.

Mrs Jane E Clayton
Dr R Bryn John
Mr Mark Linsey Mathias
Mrs Carolyn Wheeler

Saturday 8 June 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Lincolnshire

Mr Tony Worth, Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Lincolnshire.

Mr David Christopher Chambers
Mr Andrew Simon Clark
Mr Charles Alexander Pinchbeck
Professor Muriel Anita Robinson OBE

GCMG for Governor-General of Saint Christopher and Nevis

The Queen has appointed His Excellency Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence KCMG OBE Governor-General of Saint Christopher and Nevis Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG).

Wednesday 5 June 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of South Glamorgan

Dr Peter Beck FRCP, Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of South Glamorgan.

Mr Alun James Davies
Mr Roger Geraint Thomas OBE

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Herefordshire

The Countess of Darnley JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Herefordshire.

Reverend Prebendary Kathleen Beatrice Garlick
James Nicholas Esq
Rear Admiral Philip Lawrence Wilcocks CB DSC

Monday 3 June 2013

RVM for Queen’s Porter

Patrick Joseph Carroll RVM has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Gold for his service as a State Porter within the Royal Household.

Thursday 30 May 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the Royal County of Berkshire

The Hon. Mary Bayliss JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the Royal County of Berkshire.

Mr Charles David Brims
Mr Christopher Edward Dodson OBE
Mr Khan Mohammad Juna
Brigadier Stephen Charles Matthews FRSA

New Aide-de-Camp to the Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Cdre Andrew C Jameson Aide-de-Camp to her household in succession to Cdre W J Keegan ADC.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Bedfordshire

Helen Nellis, Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Bedfordshire.

Mr Nicholas Hector Kier
Dr Robert Harvey Oakley OBE
Mr Jack Sapsworth MBE

Queen Revokes Honours

The Queen has accepted the Honours Forfeiture Committee’s advice regarding the cancellation and annulment of honours awarded to the Following.

David John Bradley to be stripped of an MBE awarded on 29th December 2007 after being found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

Michael Curtis Brewer to be stripped of an OBE awarded on 31st December 1994 after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault.

Francis John Sheehan to be stripped of a CBE awarded on 14th June 2008 and a QFSM awarded on 14th June 2003 after a formal caution for producing indecent images of children.

Monday 27 May 2013

Sir William Garth Morrison KT CBE (1943-2013)


It is with great regret I announce the death of Sir William Garth Morrison KT CBE. Born on the 8th April 1943 and studied at Pangbourne College, Cambridge then went to Britannia Royal Naval College. He served in the Royal Navy from 1961 to 1973. He was Chief Scout of the UK from 1988-1996.

In 1994 he was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 2001 he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian and held the office till his death. In 2007 he was made Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT). On the 24th May 2013 he passed away after a brief illness. He was survived by his wife Lady Gill Morrison ad his three children.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Merseyside

Dame Lorna E F Muirhead, Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Merseyside.

Sir Michael Bibby Bt
Mr Robert Tudor Hooson Owen
Mr Allan Dyment Williams MVO

New Privy Councillors of the United Kingdom

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following people members of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.

The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Floyd (Sir Christopher David Floyd)
The Rt Hon. Mr Justice Underhill (Sir Nicholas Edward Underhill)
The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Ryder (Sir Ernest Nigel Ryder TD DL)
The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Briggs (Sir Michael Townley Featherstone Briggs)
The Rt Hon. Lady Justice Gloster (Dame Elizabeth Gloster DBE)

Tuesday 14 May 2013

GCMG for Governor-General of Grenada

On the 24th April 2013, The Queen appointed Her Excellency Cécile Ellen Fleurette La Grenade OBE Governor-General of Grenada Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.

Friday 10 May 2013

Royal Fellowship for The Duke of York

The Royal Society has elected His Royal Highness The Duke of York a Royal Fellow of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is a fellowship of eminent scientists who are working together to promote science and its benefits to the world. The Duke of York will join other royal fellows including Her Majesty the Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Kent and The Duke of Cambridge.

Wednesday 8 May 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Tyne and Wear

Nigel Sherlock OBE JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Tyne and Wear.

Mr Umesh Chandra Patel MBE
Dr Andrew Harry Robinson
Mrs Veena Soni
Dr Norman Taylor MBE
Mrs Susan Margaret Winfield OBE
Major Nigel Wyrley-Birch TD

The 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

Buckingham Palace has announced Her Majesty’s decision not to attend the Commonwealth Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her Majesty is sending His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as her representative at the summit accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall. The Summit will take place from the 15th-17th November 2013.

Saturday 4 May 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the Preserved County of Gwynedd

His Honour Huw Morgan Daniel KstJ, Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the Preserved County of Gwynedd.
Mrs Alison Mary Egerton Corbett OBE
Mr John Lloyd-Jones OBE

Wednesday 1 May 2013

Dutch King to Tour his Kingdom

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will tour all the provinces of the Netherlands in May and June and In November they will tour the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

Tour Dates outlined below:
28 May - Groningen / Drenthe
30 May - Gelderland / Utrecht
12 June - Limburg / North Brabant
14 June - Friesland / North Holland
19 June - Flevoland / Overijssel
21 June - Zeeland / South Holland

Tuesday 30 April 2013

The Aga Khan’s eldest son is engaged to American Model

His Highness Aga Khan IV, 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims has announced his eldest son’s engagement. Prince Rahim Aga Khan is engaged to marry Ms Kendra Spears. The wedding will be an Islamic ceremony and a date is to be announced.

The Dutch Abdication and Investiture

Today marks the abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the Investiture of her son King Willem-Alexander below is the outline of today’s events.

10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) - Queen Beatrix to sign the act of abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam

10:30 - (08:30 GMT) the former queen, now Princess Beatrix, and the new King Willem-Alexander will appear on the palace balcony, with new Queen Maxima

14:00 - (12:00 GMT) King Willem-Alexander to be sworn in at the Nieuwe Kerk

19:30 - (17:30 GMT) performance of The Song for the King followed by a water pageant

Monday 29 April 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of South Yorkshire

David Moody, Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of South Yorkshire.
Mrs Hilary Massarella MBE
Robert Dyson Esq QPM

Saturday 27 April 2013

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone

Robert Scott OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone has appointed Mr Patrick Killen OBE JP DL Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County of Tyrone.

Canada Honours Prince Philip

His Excellency The Rt Hon. David Johnston CC CMM COM CD FRSC(hon) FRCPSC(hon) Governor General of Canada has appointed Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh an Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada (CC) and a Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CMM) for his lifelong service to the Canadian people.

Thursday 25 April 2013

Succession to the Crown Act 2013

The Succession to the Crown Bill has now become law in the United Kingdom and is henceforth known as the Succession to the Crown Act 2013. The Act will not come into force until all of the other commonwealth realms pass legislation in their own Parliaments. For more information on this act here is a link to my post about it Succession to the Crown Bill

This Act symbols a new era for the British Monarchy an era which is full of equality and great change. But it sets a precedent for republicans within the Commonwealth realms to demand for more legislation to change the Monarchy limiting the royal prerogatives and finally putting an institution that has stood for more than a thousand years to the Guillotine. I don’t disagree with this act I believe in equality between men and women but as a royalist I am concerned for the future of the monarchy if the government can change a scared institution to how it suits them without consulting the people what next a British republic! That will give our future elected representatives unlimited power leaving us at their mercy. A monarchy safeguards the people it represents from the will of unscrupulous elected officials.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.
The Rt Hon. The Lord Spicer

Tuesday 23 April 2013

New Member of the Order of the Garter

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Air Chief Marshal The Rt Hon. The Lord Stirrup GCB AFC ADC a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG).

The Order of the Garter is the highest honour in the UK and is personally awarded by the Sovereign. Appointments to the Order are announced on St George’s Day and appointees are invested into the Order on Garter Day which will be the 17th June 2013.

Sunday 21 April 2013

The Sunday Times Rich List 2013

Today the Sunday Times rich list was released. I have made one of my own that lists all the Royalty, Princes and Princess, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, Barons and Baronesses, Dames, Knights and Ladys within the Sunday Times rich list for 2013.

  1. The Duke of Westminster £7800m
  2. Sir Philip and Lady Green £3880m
  3. Earl Cadogan and Family £3675m
  4. Sir Richard Branson and Family £3514m
  5. Sir Anthony Bamford and Family £3150m
  6. Sir James Dyson and Family £3000m
  7. Sir Henry Keswick and Family £2375m
  8. Baroness Howard de Walden and Family £2364m
  9. Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay £2350m
  10. Lord Paul and Family £2000m
  11. Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Family £1700m
  12. Viscount Portman and Family £1385m
  13. Lord Ashcroft £1200m
  14. Lord Grantchester and Family £1200m
  15. Sir Ian Wood and Family £1200m
  16. Lord Kirkham and Family £1150m
  17. Sir Terry Matthews £1122m
  18. Sir Charles Dunstone £1080m
  19. Sir Anwar Pervez and Family £1030m
  20. Sir Ken Morrison and Family £1005m
  21. Douglas and Dame Mary Perkins and Family £870m
  22. Lord Ballyedmond £860m
  23. Lord Sugar £860m
  24. The Earl of Iveagh and the Guinness Family £850m
  25. Sir Cameron Mackintosh £825m
  26. Lord Laidlaw £770m
  27. Lord Vestey and Family £750m
  28. Sir Brian Souter and Ann Gloag £730m
  29. The Duke of Devonshire £720m
  30. Viscount Rothermere and Family £720m
  31. The Hon. Nat Rothschild £700m
  32. Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell £680m
  33. The Duke of Bedford £630m
  34. Sir Donald Gordon and Family £620m
  35. Lord Lloyd-Webber £620m
  36. Lord Sainsbury of Turville £590m
  37. Sir David McMurtry £586m
  38. Sir Peter Rigby £550m
  39. The Duke of Sutherland £525m
  40. Sir Arnold Clark and Family £508m
  41. Prince Jonathan and Princess Gesine Doria Pamphilj £500m
  42. Sir David Samworth and Family £490m
  43. Lord Rothschild £470m
  44. Sir Evelyn and Lady Rothschild £467m
  45. Sir Douglas Myers £448m
  46. Lord Edmiston £440m
  47. Rear-Admiral Sir Donald Gosling £430m
  48. Lord Alliance and Family £400m
  49. Viscount Cowdray and the Pearson Family £400m
  50. Sir Michael Smurfit and Family £398m
  51. Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones £375m
  52. The Hon. Charlotte Townshend £375m
  53. Sir John and Peter Beckwith £350m
  54. Sir Tony and Lady O’Reilly £346m
  55. Sir John Zochonis and Family £330m
  56. The Duke of Northumberland 325m
  57. Sir Martyn Arbib and Family £320m
  58. Her Majesty the Queen £320m
  59. Sir Paul Ruddock £300m
  60. The MacAlpine Family £295m
  61. Zac and Lady Annabel Goldsmith and Family £280m
  62. Sir Paul and Lady Smith £280m
  63. The Marquess of Salisbury £275m
  64. Sir Bernard Schreier and Family £265m
  65. Lord Heseltine and Family £264m
  66. Sir Rocco Forte and Olga Polizzi and Family £250m
  67. Sir Peter Ogden £250m
  68. Lord Lliffe and Family £245m
  69. Sir Elton John £240m
  70. Sir Michael Bibby and Family £238m
  71. Sir Stanley and Peter Thomas £230m
  72. Sir Ronnie Cohen and Sharon Harel £220m
  73. Sir Martin Sorrell £210m
  74. Lord Bagri and Hon. Apurv Bagri £200m
  75. Lord Glendonbrook £200m
  76. Sir Mick Jagger £200m
  77. The Marquess of Bath £180m
  78. The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry and Family £180m
  79. The Astor Family £175m
  80. Dame Margaret and Helen Barbour and Family £175m
  81. Sir Colin Giltrap £169m
  82. Sir Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe Bt and Family £160m
  83. Sir Keith Mills £160m
  84. Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland Bt £160m
  85. Sir Angus Grossart £158m
  86. Sir William Haughey £155m
  87. Sir Peter Michael £155m
  88. Sir Peter Vardy £155m
  89. Sir Chris Evans £150m
  90. Lord Foster of Thames Bank £150m
  91. Lord Harris of Peckham £150m
  92. Sir Robert Ogden £150m
  93. Sir Richard Sutton £150m
  94. Sir Tim Rice £149m
  95. Sir Tom Jones £145m
  96. Sir John Ritblat £140m
  97. Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare £135m
  98. The Duke of Beaufort £135m
  99. Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith £135m
  100. Lord Saatchi and Charles Saatchi £135m
  101. Sir Tom Farmer £132m
  102. Lord Fink £130m
  103. Sir Jack Hayward £130m
  104. The Earl of Pembroke £130m
  105. Sir Ray Tindle £130m
  106. Sir Richard George £125m
  107. The Duke of Rutland £125m
  108. Sir Jonathan Ive £120m
  109. Sir Martin Laing £120m
  110. The Earl of Stockton and the Macmillan Family £120m
  111. Earl Spencer £115m
  112. Sir Frank Williams £115m
  113. Sir Rod Aldridge £110m
  114. Sir William Benyon £110m
  115. The Marquess of Bute £110m
  116. The Duke of Marlborough £110m
  117. Sir George Meyrick £110m
  118. The Duke of Roxburghe £105m
  119. The Marquess of Northampton £103m
  120. Viscount Hambleden £100m
  121. Sir John Madejski £100m
  122. The Duke of Richmond and Gordon £100m
  123. Sir Simon Robertson £100m
  124. Sir John Mactaggart £99m
  125. Lord Deighton £95m
  126. Sir David Garrard £95m
  127. Lord Alli £90m
  128. The Earl of Halifax £90m
  129. The Marquess of Milford Haven £90m
  130. Sir Fraser and Gordon Morrison £90m
  131. The Earl of Rosebery £90m
  132. Lord Tanlaw £85m
  133. The Earl of Yarborough £84m
  134. Sir Michael Marshall £82m
  135. Sir Sean Connery £80m
  136. Sir Terence Conran £80m
  137. The Earl of Leicester £80m
  138. Sir Michael Heller £77m
  139. Lord Daresbury and the Greenall Family £75m
  140. Lord Drayson £75m
  141. Lord Noon £75m
  142. Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise £75m
  143. Lord Rana £72m
  144. The Earl of Inchcape £65m
  145. Lord Mostyn and Family £48m
  146. Sir Billy Hastings £40m
  147. Lord and Lady Kilclooney £40m
  148. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry £28m

Thursday 18 April 2013

New First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy

Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC has been appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty the Queen in succession to Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope GCB OBE ADC.

New Communications Secretary to the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall

Ms Sally Osman has been appointed Communications Secretary to the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall’s Household. Ms Osman is currently Director of Corporate Communications for Sony’s European division. Ms Osman assumes her appointment in June this year.

Friday 12 April 2013

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.
The Hon. Lord Hodge

Thursday 11 April 2013

Queen Appoints New Honorary Dental Surgeon

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Colonel W.C. Black her Honorary Dental Surgeon (QHDS). Colonel Black has previously served in the Royal Army Dental Corps.

LVO for Queen’s Watch Keeper

Robert Andrew Ball MVO has been appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service as Senior Horological Conservator for the Royal Household.

New Clerk of Lieutenancy for East Sussex

Peter Field, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex has commissioned Ms Penelope Thompson CBE Clerk to the lieutenancy of East Sussex.

Monday 8 April 2013

Baroness Thatcher LG OM PC FRS (1925-2013)

Baroness Thatcher first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has passed away aged 87 following a stroke. Lady Thatcher was born Margaret Hilda Roberts in Grantham, Lincolnshire on the 13th October 1925 to Alfred Roberts and Beatrice Ethel Roberts nee Stephenson.

Miss Roberts attended Huntingtower Road Primary School followed by Kesteven and Grantham Girls School where she was head girl. Upon leaving school she went to Somerville College, Oxford to study Chemistry. In 1947 she graduated with second class honours degree.

In 1946 Miss Roberts became President of the Oxford University Conservative Association. Miss Roberts then went on to work as research chemist for Bx Plastics and J Lyons and Co in the 1950’s.

Miss Roberts stood as the Conservative Candidate for Dartford in the 1950 and 1951 general elections but fail to gain the seat on both occasions. In December 1951 she married Dennis Thatcher. Mrs Thatcher then embarked on a change of career studying to join the bar and become a barrister qualifying in 1953. Mrs Thatcher became a mother of twins on the 15th August 1953 a daughter named Carol and a son named Mark. 

Mrs Thatcher stood as the Conservative Candidate in the 1955 Orpington by-election but fail to win the seat. In 1959 she stood as the Conservative Candidate for Finchley and won. In October 1961 Mrs Thatcher was appointed Parliamentary Undersecretary at the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.


Following the Conservative Party losing the 1964 General Election she became Shadow spokeswoman for Housing and Land then become Shadow spokeswoman for the Treasury in 1966. Mrs Thatcher then become Shadow spokeswoman for Fuel then Shadow spokeswoman for Transport. Mrs Thatcher last appointment in opposition was Shadow spokeswoman for Education.


In 1970 General Election the Conservative Party won and Mrs Thatcher was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Science. Mrs Thatcher made cuts to the Education budget resulting in the abolishment of free school milk for schoolchildren aged Seven to Eleven. The Labour Party and the Press dubbed her Margaret Thatcher milk snatcher.


In 1974 the Conservative Party lost the February and October General Elections Mrs Thatcher challenged Edward Heath the Party’s leader in a leadership contest wining the first ballot Edward Heath subsequently resigned. Mrs Thatcher went on to beat William Whitelaw in the second ballot becoming Leader of the Conservative Party on the 11th February 1975.


Following the Winter of Discontent in the late 1970’s the Conservative party with Mrs Thatcher at the helm won the 1979 General Election defeating the Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan. On the 4th May 1979 Mrs Thatcher became Britain’s first female Prime Minister in her speech on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street her said “Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope”. Mrs Thatcher went on to win the 1983 General Election and the 1987 General Election. Mrs Thatcher had to deal with some of the most important social and political events in the UK’s history during her premiership. The Following are just some she had to face.

1980 - The Iranian Embassy Siege

1981 - The Brixton Riots

1981 - The Irish Hunger Strike by Irish Republican Prisoners

1981 - UK goes into Recession

2nd April 1982 - The Falkland and South Georgia Islands are invaded by Argentina Mrs Thatcher sent a naval task force down to the Falkland’s and following two months of fighting and 258 British Serviceman dying Argentina surrendered on the 14th June 1982.

1984-1985 The Miners’ Strike. The National Union of Mineworkers call a strike in protest of pit closures the Strike ended in 1985 and the closures went ahead.

12 October 1984 - The Brighton Hotel Bombing the Provisional Irish Republican Army attempted to assassinate Mrs Thatcher killing 5 people and injuring 31 Mrs Thatcher escaped unharmed.

1984 - Signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration ensuring the safe handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China.

1985 - Signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement a significant step in the Irish Peace process.

1986 - Secured a Large annual rebate from the European Union to the UK.

1989 - Abolished the Greater London Council and six other Municipal county Councils in England.

1989 - Defeated a leadership Challenge by Sir Anthony Meyer 3rd Bt.

1990 - Introduction of the Community Charge Commonly known as the Poll Tax.

1990 - Poll Tax Riots.

1990 - Michael Heseltine challenges Mrs Thatcher for the Leadership of the Conservative Party Mrs Thatcher wins the first ballot.

22 November 1990 following several members of the cabinet declaring they would not support her Mrs Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister.

Following Mrs Thatcher’s resignation her Mr Denis Thatcher MBE TD was created a baronet making him Sir Denis Thatcher MBE TD 1st Bt of Scotney in the County of Kent. Mrs Thatcher was then styled Lady Thatcher. Lady Thatcher was awarded the Order of Merit (OM) for her service as Prime Minister.

Lady Thatcher retired as MP of Finchley in 1992. In Lady Thatcher appointed to the House of Lords as a Life Peer under the Title Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven in the County of Lincolnshire. In 1995 Baroness Thatcher was appointed Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter (LG).

In her later years Baroness Thatcher suffered increasing poor heath including several mini strokes. She was unable to attend the Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 due to ill health and showed increased frailty in her recent public appearances.

Today Baroness Thatcher’s spokesman Lord Bell announced she passed away peacefully following a stroke.

It has been announced that Baroness Thatcher will receive a Ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Saturday 6 April 2013

LVO for Royal Protector

Mr Richard Frederick Griffin MVO was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his service to Royal Protection.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

New Private Secretary to Prince Henry of Wales

HRH Prince Henry of Wales has appointed Mr Edward Lane Fox Private Secretary to the Household of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Mr Lane Fox is a Former Captain in the Blues and Royals.

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.
The Hon. Lord Bracadale QC

Friday 29 March 2013

New Life Peer

Michael Fitzhardinge Berkeley CBE has been granted the title of Baron Berkeley of Knighton of Knighton in the County of Powys. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Crossbencher.

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria

Mrs Claire Hensman, Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria has appointed The Rt Hon. The Lord Inglewood Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cumbria.

Wednesday 27 March 2013

Prince Harry to visit the USA

St James's Palace has announced Prince Harry will visit the United States of America from the 9th May till the 15th May. The Prince will visit Washington DC, Denver, Colorado Springs, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Tour Itinerary

In Washington DC Prince Harry will attend a reception at the British embassy.

Prince Harry will visit an exhibition on Capitol Hill on landmine clearance. Prince Harry has recently become patron of the HALO Trust landmine clearance charity.

Prince Harry will pay his respects at the Arlington National Cemetery and will then visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

In Denver Prince Harry will visit the British Consul-General in the region. Prince Harry will then attend the opening ceremony of the 2013 Warrior Games a Paralympic sports event for injured servicemen and women.

In New York Prince Harry will attend an event to promote the GREAT campaign promoting British business.

The Prince will also visit a community baseball programme involving a new partnership with the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

In New Jersey Prince Harry will meet victims of Hurricane Sandy.

In Connecticut Prince Harry will take part in the fourth Sentebale Polo Cup. Prince Harry may meet the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting but this has not been confirmed by St James's Palace.

New Deputy Lieutenants of the East Riding of Yorkshire

The Hon. Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Mrs Elaine Anne Garland
Colonel David Ian Fuller OBE
Mr Adrian Mark Horsley

Re-Appointment of Vice Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh

The Rt Hon. The Viscount Brookeborough, Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh has re-appointed the following Vice Lord Lieutenant of County Fermanagh.
Lord Anthony Hamilton DL

Friday 22 March 2013

High Sheriff for 2013/14 in the Duchy of Cornwall

The Prince of Wales in his position as Duke of Cornwall has appointed the following High Sheriff within the Duchy of Cornwall.

Duchy of Cornwall

For the County of Cornwall
2013/2014: Mr James Buller Kitson

Monday 18 March 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Hampshire

Dame Mary Fagan DCVO JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Hampshire.
Colonel Charles Edward Haviland Ackroyd TD RD
Professor Joy Carter
Mrs Clare Scheckter

Queen Honours the Duke of Cambridge

On the 17th March 2013 Her Majesty the Queen appointed Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Personal Aide-de-Camp (ADC(P))to Her Majesty.

Friday 15 March 2013

New Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Derbyshire

William Tucker, Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Derbyshire.
Miss Catherine Nina Alcock
Mr Richard Howard Brown CBE
Wing Commander Philip Giles OBE
Mrs Griselda Mary Kerr
Mr Robert Malcolm Kirkland
Mr John William White

High Sheriffs for 2013/14 in the Duchy of Lancaster

Her Majesty the Queen in her position as Duke of Lancaster has appointed the following High Sheriffs within the Duchy of Lancaster.

Duchy of Lancaster

For the County of Lancashire
2013/2014: Mrs Letitia Ann Dean DL
For the County of Greater Manchester
2013/2014: Mr Paul Griffiths DL
For the County of Merseyside
2013/2014: Mr Robert Ian Shaw Meadows OBE DL

High Sheriffs of England and Wales for 2013/14

The following people have been appointed High Sheriff for the Counties of England and Wales for 2013/2014 with the exception of Cornwall, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire who are appointed by the Dukes of Cornwall and Lancaster.

England

For the County of Bedfordshire
2013/2014: Mrs Deborah Inskip
For the Royal County of Berkshire
2013/2014: Professor Suzanna Christina Rose
For the County of Buckinghamshire
2013/2014: Sir Stuart Hampson
For the County of Cambridgeshire
2013/2014: The Hon. Aubrey James Francis Buxton
For the County of Cheshire
2013/2014: Mr Martin Dudley Beaumont
For the City of Bristol
2013/2014: Dr Shaheen Shahzadi Chaudhry
For the County of Cumbria
2013/2014: Mrs Diana Ruth Matthews
For the County of Derbyshire
2013/2014: Mr Derek Mapp DL
For the County of Devon
2013/2014: Mr John Albert Thomas Lee OBE
For the County of Dorset
2013/2014: Mrs Catriona Janet Payne
For the County of Durham
2013/2014: Mr Peter Stuart Bell
For the County of East Riding of Yorkshire
2013/2014: Mr Stephen Thomas Larard
For the County of East Sussex
2013/2014: Mr Graham Peters
For the County of Essex
2013/2014: Mrs Julia Mary Seton Abel Smith
For the County of Gloucestershire
2013/2014: The Hon. Hugh John Hamilton Tollemache
For Greater London
2013/2014: Mr David Christopher Fraser Jones
For the County of Hampshire
2013/2014: Mr Rupert Edward Alexander Younger
For the County of Herefordshire
2013/2014: Mr Robert Simon Dyke Tabor
For the County of Hertfordshire
2013/2014: The Viscountess Trenchard
For the County of Isle of Wight
2013/2014: Mrs Mary Louise Case
For the County of Kent
2013/2014: Lord Colgrain
For the County of Leicestershire
2013/2014: Mrs Sally Elizabeth Ann Bowie
For the County of Lincolnshire
2013/2014: Mr Toby Edward Drake Dennis
For the County of Norfolk
2013/2014: The Countess of Leicester
For the County of Northamptonshire
2013/2014: Mr James Michael Shepherd-Cross
For the County of Northumberland
2013/2014: Mr Peter Robert Loyd
For the County of North Yorkshire
2013/2014: The Reverend Rachel Candia Benson
For the County of Nottinghamshire
2013/2014: Mrs Nicola June Weston
For the County of Oxfordshire
2013/2014: Professor Graham Upton
For the County of Rutland
2013/2014: Mrs Patricia Tena Ruddle
For the County of Shropshire
2013/2014: Mrs Diana Rosemary Flint
For the County of Somerset
2013/2014: Mrs Maureen Effie Whitmore
For the County of South Yorkshire
2013/2014: Lady Sykes
For the County of Staffordshire
2013/2014: Miss Susan Caroline Inge-Innes-Lillingston
For the County of Suffolk
2013/2014: Sir Edward Bernard Greenwell Bt
For the County of Surrey
2013/2014: Dr Helen Ann Bowcock DL
For the County of Tyne and Wear
2013/2014: Mr George Scott
For the County of Warwickshire
2013/2014: Mr Keith Howard Sach
For the County of West Midlands
2013/2014: Dr Christine Braddock CBE
For the County of West Sussex
2013/2014: David Patrick Henry Burgess MBE
For the County of West Yorkshire
2013/2014: Mrs Virginia Annable Lloyd
For the County of Wiltshire
2013/2014: Mr William Francis Wyldbore-Smith
For the County of Worcestershire
2013/2014: Mr Nicholas Philip Wentworth-Stanley

Wales

For the County of Clwyd
2013/2014: Mrs Celia Mary Jenkins Trevor
For the County of Dyfed
2013/2014: Mr John Thomas Davies
For the County of Gwent
2013/2014: Mr Murray Alexander MacFarlane
For the County of Gwynedd
2013/2014: Mrs Marian Wyn Jones
For the County of Mid Glamorgan
2013/2014: Mr Rory James Murray McLaggan
For the County of Powys
2013/2014: Mr Bernard Bromley Harris MBE
For the County of South Glamorgan
2013/2014: Mrs Morfudd Ann Meredith
For the County of West Glamorgan
2013/2014: Mrs Gaynor Marie Richards MBE

Former Minister Leaves the Privy Council

Former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Mr Chris Huhne has asked Her Majesty the Queen to leave the Privy Council.

Mr Huhne resigned as a Member of Parliament after he was charged with perverting the course of justice. Mr Huhne stood trial at Southwark Crown Court and on the 11th March was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council have taken Mr Huhne request under consideration and have ordered his name to be removed from the list of Members of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

New Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Durham

On the 1st March 2013 Sir Paul Nicholson KCVO, Lord-Lieutenant of Durham commissioned the following to become a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Durham.
Mr Peter Barron

Wednesday 13 March 2013

New Pope Elected to the Throne of St Peter

The Vatican has announced that a new Pope has been elected to the throne of St Peter. The Papal Conclave has voted Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church.

Cardinal Bergoglio has chosen his Papal name and henceforth to be known as Pope Francis I. Pope Francis I is from Argentina he was born on the 17th of December 1936 in Buenos Aires. Pope Francis I was ordained a priest in 1969.He climbed the ranks within the Catholic Church to become Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. In 2001 he was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

Pope Francis I is the first Latin American Pope. Pope Francis I is also the first Pope who is a member of the Society of Jesus commonly known as Jesuits, a religious order previously persecuted by the Catholic Church.

With the election of Pope Francis I hope the Catholic Church can face the important issues such as Child Sex Abuse within the Church, Homosexuality, Abortion, use of contraception and ordaining of Female Priests.

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Royal Tour of the Middle East

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have started their nine day tour of the Middle East visiting Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman returning on the 19th March.

Thursday 7 March 2013

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.
Stephen O’Brien MP

Tuesday 5 March 2013

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland

The Duchess of Northumberland, Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland has appointed Colonel Anthony Arthur Edward Glenton CBE TD FCA DL Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County of Northumberland.

New Deputy Lieutenants of the West Midlands

Paul Sabapathy CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands commissioned the following to become Deputy Lieutenants of the West Midlands.
Professor Madeleine Atkins CBE
Mr Richard Boot OBE
Mr Stephen Goldstein
Mr Stewart Towe CBE

Sunday 3 March 2013

Queen Elizabeth in Hospital

Her Majesty the Queen has been taken to King Edward VII Hospital in London after showing symptoms of Gastroenteritis. The Queen was taken by private car from Windsor Castle to King Edward’s. The Queen will spend at least 2 two days in hospital for an assessment. This is the first time the Queen has been hospitalised in 10 years ago, when she required knee surgery. The Queen has cancelled or in some cases postponed all her engagements for this week including her trip to Rome with the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen is said to be in good spirits. I wish her a speedy recovery.

Wednesday 27 February 2013

New Life Peer

Martha Lane Fox CBE has been granted the title of Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho in the City of Westminster. Under the Life Peerage Act 1958 and will sit in the House of Lords as a Crossbencher.

KCVO for the Former Lord High Almoner

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed The Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) for his service as Lord High Almoner.

New Lord High Almoner

Her Majesty the Queen has appointed The Right Reverend Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester to the office of Lord High Almoner following the retirement of The Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch.

The Lord High Almoner’s duties are arrange and attended the Royal Maundy service for the sovereign. If the sovereign is unable to attend the Lord High Almoner represents them.

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Queen Revokes Honours

The Queen has accepted the Honours Forfeiture Committee’s advice regarding the cancellation and annulment of honours awarded to the Following.

Peter Andrew Nicholson to be stripped of an OBE awarded on 31st December 2004 after being convicted of fraud

Leslie William Smith to be stripped of an OBE awarded on 11th June 1994 after being convicted of sexual assault

David Russon to be stripped of an MBE awarded on 16th June 2001 after alleged inappropriate contact with children

Sunday 24 February 2013

Cressida Bonas a born to be Royal

Cressida Bonas is an English socialite born in 1989 daughter of 60’s it girl Lady Mary-Gaye Georgiana Lorna Curzon. Cressida was educated Stowe School in Buckinghamshire then on to Leeds University where she studied dance, following her graduation she now studies contemporary dance at The Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Cressida has recently been placed in the media spotlight because of her personnel relationship with Prince Harry of Wales third in line to the British throne. Cressida and Harry have been together since last summer and stayed in contact thought Harry’s latest deployment to Afghanistan during this time Cressida referred to herself as Harry’s girlfriend in waiting. Cressida and Harry were recently photographed by the media whilst on a ski trip in Switzerland increasing the likelihood of Cressida one day being a member of the British Royal Family.

Cressida is no stranger to titled nobility, she is Harry’s 8th cousin 1x removed on his mother’s side and 12th Cousin 1x removed on his father’s she is a descendant of some of the greatest noble family’s in British history.


Below are the lines of descent showing Cressida and Harry’s closest kinship

John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough
Lady Anne Churchill
Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough
George Spencer 4th Duke of Marlborough
George Spencer-Churchill 5th Duke of Marlborough
George Spencer-Churchill 6th Duke of Marlborough
John Spencer-Churchill 7th Duke of Marlborough
Lady Georgiana Spencer-Churchill
Francis Curzon 5th Earl Howe
Edward Curzon 6th Earl Howe
Lady Mary-Gaye Georgiana Lorna Curzon
Cressida Bonas

John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough
Lady Anne Churchill
Hon. John Spencer
John Spencer 1st Earl Spencer
George Spencer 2nd Earl Spencer
Frederick Spencer 4th Earl Spencer
Charles Spencer 6th Earl Spencer
Albert Spencer 7th Earl Spencer
John Spencer 8th Earl Spencer
Diana Princess of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales