Vice-Chamberlain of the Household explained

The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household is a member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The officeholder is usually a senior government whip in the British House of Commons ranking third or fourth after the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip. The Vice-Chamberlain is the Deputy to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household and, like the Lord Chamberlain, carries a white staff of office when on duty on state occasions.

The Vice-Chamberlain's main roles are to compile a daily private report to the Sovereign on proceedings in the House of Commons and to relay addresses from the Commons to the Sovereign and back. As a member of the Royal Household, the Vice-Chamberlain accompanies the Sovereign and Royal Household at certain diplomatic and social events, particularly the annual garden party at Buckingham Palace. When the Sovereign goes in procession to Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament, the Vice-Chamberlain stays and is "held captive" at Buckingham Palace. This custom began with the Stuart Restoration (1660), because of the previous parliament's role in the beheading of Charles I. During their captivity the Vice-Chamberlain is offered a choice of champagne or sherry to drink by the Lord Chamberlain as they watch the State Opening of Parliament on television.

During the latter part of her reign, the Vice-Chamberlain sent a daily email to Elizabeth II.[1] The Queen was regarded as well informed about British political affairs as she typically read daily newspapers and was a listener of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.[1] The late queen's private secretary told Andrew MacKay, who held the post in 1996, to include more "gossip and the inside track" as his initial efforts had been "rather stilted". MacKay turned his efforts into a "who's up, who's down" for the queen.[1] Anne Milton, who held the post in 2014 and 2015, looked for things that "might amuse" the queen and to "give a bit of colour" to the proceedings in the House of Commons.[1] The Queen reportedly told Jim Fitzpatrick, who held the post of Vice-Chamberlain between 2003 and 2005 to send her news which "doesn't make the press" and that he felt encouraged to be "frank and transparent" with her due to the privacy of their communications.[1] Emails began to be sent to the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2014; the dispatches had previously been collected by a messenger.[1]

Notable holders of the office include Sir George Carteret, Lord Hervey, the Earl of Harrington, the Earl Spencer, Michael Stewart and Bernard Weatherill.

List of Vice-Chamberlains of the Household

Name Entered office Left office Notes Reference
1501 Unknown Lord Chamberlain from 1509; created Baron Herbert in 1504 and Earl of Worcester in 1514 [2]
1521 Unknown [3]
Unknown 1526 Became Lord Chamberlain [4]
1526 1533 Lord Chamberlain from 1553 [5]
1536 1539
1539 1550 [6]
1550 1551 Became Lord Chamberlain; created Baron Darcy of Chiche in 1551 [7]
1551 Unknown [8]
1553 1557 [9]
1557 1558 [10]
1558 1559 [11]
1559 Unknown [12]
1577 1587 [13]
1587 1595 [14]
1601 1616 [15]
1616 1625 [16]
1625 1626 Created Baron Carleton in 1626 and Viscount Dorchester in 1628
1626 1630 [17]
1630 1639
1639 1644 Created Earl of Norwich in 1644 [18]
Vacant
1660 1680 Notionally held the office from 1647 [19] [20] [21]
1680 1687
1687 1689
1689 1694 Created Viscount Lonsdale in 1679
1694 1706
1706 1727
1727 1730 Created Baron Harrington in 1730 and Earl of Harrington in 1742
1730 1740
1740 1742
1742 1765
1765 1770 Succeeded as Earl of Jersey in 1769
Thomas Robinson, from 1770 Lord Grantham 1770 1771
1771 1782 Succeeded as Earl of Sandwich in 1792
1782 1784 Succeeded as Earl Waldegrave in 1784
1784 1794 Succeeded as Earl of Pembroke in 1794
1794 1804 or 1809 [22]
1804 or 1809 1812 Succeeded as Baron Carteret in 1838
1812 1812 Succeeded as Marquess of Hertford in 1822
1812 1821
1821 1827 Succeeded as Duke of Montrose in 1836
1827 1830
1830 1834 First period in office; succeeded as Marquess of Donegall in 1844
1834 1835 Succeeded as Marquess of Londonderry in 1854
1835 1838
George Chichester, Earl of Belfast 1838 1841 Second period in office; succeeded as Marquess of Donegall in 1844
1841 1846 First period in office; succeeded as Marquess of Ailesbury in 1878
1846 1852 Created Baron Howard of Glossop in 1869
1852 1852 First period in office; Lord Chamberlain from 1866; succeeded as Earl of Bradford in 1865
Lord Ernest Brudenell-Bruce 1852 1858 Second period in office; succeeded as Marquess of Ailesbury in 1878
Orlando Bridgeman, Viscount Newport 1858 1859 Second period in office; Lord Chamberlain from 1866; succeeded as Earl of Bradford in 1865
1859 1866 First period in office; succeeded as Earl of Kenmare in 1871
1866 1868
Valentine Browne, Viscount Castlerosse, from 1871 Earl of Kenmare 1868 1872 Second period in office; Lord Chamberlain from 1880
1872 1874 Created Baron Stalbridge in 1886
1874 1880
1880 1885
1885 1886 First period in office; succeeded as Earl of Dartmouth in 1881
1886 1886 Succeeded as Earl of Cavan in 1887
William Legge, Viscount Lewisham, from 1891 Earl of Dartmouth 1886 1891 Second period in office
1891 1892 Succeeded as Marquess of Exeter in 1895
1892 1895
1895 1900 Created Baron Ailwyn in 1921
1900 1902 Created Lord St Audries in 1911
1902 1905
Wentworth Beaumont, from 1907 Lord Allendale 1905 1907 Created Viscount Allendale in 1911
John Fuller, from 1910 Sir John, 1st Baronet 1907 1911
1911 1915
1915 1917
1917 1922
1922 1924 First period in office; created Baron Hacking in 1945
1924 1924
Douglas Hacking 1924 1925 Second period in office; created Baron Hacking in 1945
George Hennessy, from 1927 Sir George, 1st Baronet 1925 1928 Became Treasurer of the Household; created Baron Windlesham in 1937
Frederick Thomson, from 1929 Sir Frederick, 1st Baronet 1928 1929 First period in office
1929 1931
1931 1931 Second period in office
1931 1932 Became Comptroller of the Household; created Viscount Marchwood in 1945
1932 1935 Became Comptroller of the Household; created Baron Bruntisfield in 1942
1935 1935 Became Comptroller of the Household
George Davies, from 1936 Sir George 1935 1936 Became Comptroller of the Household
1937 1937 Became Treasurer of the Household; succeeded as Baron Rankeillour in 1949
1937 1938
1938 1939 Became Treasurer of the Household; created Baron Grimston of Westbury in 1952
1939 1942 Became Treasurer of the Household
William Boulton, from 1944 Sir William, 1st Baronet 1942 1944
1944 1945
1945 1946 Created Lord Burntwood in 1970
1946 1947 Created Lord Stewart of Fulham in 1979
1947 1951 Created Lord Popplewell in 1966
1951 1956
1956 1957
1957 1959 Became Treasurer of the Household; succeeded as Lord Newton in 1960
1959 1960 Became Treasurer of the Household
1960 1960
1960 1964
1964 1966
1966 1967
1967 1969 Became Treasurer of the Household
1969 1970
1970 1971
1971 1972 Became Comptroller of the Household; created Lord Weatherill in 1992
1972 1973 Became Comptroller of the Household
1973 1974
1974 1974
1974 1978 Became Comptroller of the Household
1978 1979
1979 1981 Became Comptroller of the Household
1981 1983 Became Comptroller of the Household
1983 1986 Became Comptroller of the Household
1986 1988 Became Comptroller of the Household; created Lord Garel-Jones in 1997
1988 1988
1988 1990
1990 1990 Became Comptroller of the Household
1990 1992
1992 1995
1995 1996
1996 1996
1996 1997
1997 1998
1998 2001
2001 2003
2003 2005
2005 2007
2007 2008
2008 2009 [23]
2009 2010 [24]
2010 2012
2012 2013 Previously Treasurer of the Household 1993-96
2013 2014
2014 2015
2015 2016
2016 2017 Became Treasurer of the Household
2017 2018 Became Comptroller of the Household
2018 2018 Became Comptroller of the Household
2018 2019
20192019
2019 2020 Became Treasurer of the Household
2020 2021 Became Comptroller of the Household
2021 2022[25]
2022 2022
2022 2023 [26]
Stuart Anderson20232024[27]
2024 present https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024

List of Shadow Vice-Chamberlains of the Household

Notes and References

  1. News: Queen Elizabeth is hooked on political gossip. 5 February 2022. Annabelle Dickson. Politico. 24 February 2022.
  2. Web site: Somerset, Charles, first earl of Worcester (c.1460–1526). Hughes. Jonathan. January 2007. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/26004. 13 February 2011.
  3. Web site: Wingfield, Sir Robert (b. in or before 1464, d. 1539). Robertson. Mary L.. October 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/29741. 13 February 2011.
  4. Web site: Gage, Sir John (1479–1556). Potter. David. January 2010. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/10272. 13 February 2011.
  5. Web site: Gage, Sir John (1479–1556). Potter. David. January 2010. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/10272. 13 February 2011.
  6. Web site: Wingfield, Sir Anthony (b. before 1488, d. 1552). Carter. P. R. N.. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/29733. 23 January 2011.
  7. Web site: Darcy, Thomas, first Baron Darcy of Chiche (1506–1558). Loades. David. January 2010. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/70579. 23 January 2011.
  8. Web site: Gates, Sir John (1504–1553). Sil. Narasingha P.. September 2010. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/10448. 23 January 2011.
  9. Web site: Jerningham, Sir Henry (1509/10–1572). Weikel. Ann. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/14785. 19 February 2011.
  10. Web site: Bedingfeld, Sir Henry (1509x11–1583). Weikel. Ann. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/1936. 19 February 2011.
  11. Web site: Rogers, Sir Edward (c.1498–1568). Graves. Michael A. R.. 2004. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/23971. 23 January 2011.
  12. Web site: Knollys, Sir Francis (1511/12–1596). MacCaffrey. Wallace T.. January 2010. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/15755. 23 January 2011.
  13. Web site: Hatton, Sir Christopher (c.1540–1591). MacCaffrey. Wallace T.. 2004. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/12605. 23 January 2011.
  14. Web site: Heneage, Sir Thomas (b. in or before 1532, d. 1595). Hicks. Michael. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/12921. 23 January 2011.
  15. Web site: Stanhope, John, first Baron Stanhope (c.1540–1621). Hicks. Michael. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/26249. 23 January 2011.
  16. Web site: Digby, John, first earl of Bristol (1580–1653). Smith. David L.. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/7628. 23 January 2011.
  17. Web site: May, Sir Humphrey (1572/3–1630). Hopper. Andrew J.. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/18420. 20 February 2011.
  18. Web site: Goring, George, first earl of Norwich (1585–1663). Donagan. Barbara. January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/11101. 13 February 2011.
  19. Web site: Carteret, Sir George, first baronet (1610?–1680). Firth. C. H.. Knighton. C. S. (rev.). January 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/4803. 13 February 2011.
  20. Web site: Bucholz. R.O. Bucholz. Chamber Administration: Lord Chamberlain, 1660-1837. Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 11 (revised): Court Officers, 1660-1837. 13 February 2011. 2006.
  21. Web site: Lists of Appointments : Chamber Administration : Vice Chamberlain 1660-1837 . 8 March 2022.
  22. Web site: Greville, Charles Francis (1749–1809). Cooper. Michael P.. January 2007. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/ref:odnb/40496. 13 February 2011.
  23. Web site: MP handed royal promotion . 6 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120224031700/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/localnews/3730533.MP_handed_royal_promotion/ . 24 February 2012 . . 8 March 2022.
  24. Web site: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090706042222/http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19564 . 6 July 2009 . Her Majesty's Government. 9 June 2011 .
  25. Web site: Ministerial appointments: July 2022 . 2022-07-08 . GOV.UK . en.
  26. Web site: Ministerial Appointments: September 2022 . 2022-09-09 . GOV.UK . en.
  27. Web site: 2023-11-14 . Ministerial appointments: November 2023 . 2023-11-14 . GOV.UK . en.

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