Master of the Robes explained

The Master of the Robes is an office in the British Royal Household. He is responsible for the King's robes at times such as a coronation, the annual Order of the Garter service and the State Opening of Parliament. Since the reign of King Edward VII, the office has only been filled for coronations (note, the office is not allocated during the reign of a queen regnant). Below is a list of known office holders:

Henry VII

• 1496: Sir Edward Burton^[1]

James I

• 1603-1612: Roger Aston.^[2]
• 1617–1625: Christopher Villiers^[3]

Charles, Prince of Wales, later Charles I

• 1611–1622: Hon. Robert Carey
• 1622–1628: Spencer Compton, Lord Compton
• 1628–1649: ?

Charles II

• 1660–1662: Henry Cavendish, Viscount Mansfield
• 1662–1678: Hon. Lawrence Hyde
• 1678-1679: Sidney Godolphin
• 1679–1685: Henry Sydney

James II

• 1685–1687: Arthur Herbert
• 1687–1688: Lord Thomas Howard

William III

• 1690–1695: William Nassau de Zuylestein
• 1695–1701: Arnold van Keppel
• 1701: Cornelius Nassau

Queen Anne

See also: Mistress of the Robes.

George I

• 1714–1726: William Cadogan
• 1727: George Cholmondeley, Viscount Malpas

George II

• 1727–1757: Augustus Schutz
• 1757–1760: Edward Finch

George III

• 1760–1791: Hon. James Brudenell
• 1791–1808: Sir James Peachey
• 1808–1809: Hon. William Harcourt
• 1809–1812: Hon. Henry Sedley
• 1812–1820: Charles Nassau Thomas

George IV

• 1820–1830: Lord Francis Conyngham

William IV

• 1830: Sir Charles Pole, Bt.
• 1830–1837: Sir George Seymour

Edward VII

• 1902: Charles Harbord, 5th Baron Suffield

George V

• 1911: Victor Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill^[4]

Edward VIII

• 1936: Edward Colebrooke, 1st Baron Colebrooke^{[5] [6]}

George VI

• 1936: Post vacant

Charles III

• 2022: Post vacant

External links

• Database of Court Officers
• Burke's Peerage & Gentry

Notes and References

1. Book: The Gentleman's and London Magazine: Or Monthly Chronologer, 1741–1794. J. Exshaw.. 1791. 30 April 2019. 77. .. living in 1496, and Master of the Robes to K. Henry VII. ....
2. John S. Brewer, The Court of King James the First by Godfrey Goodman, vol. 1 (London, 1839), p. 18.
3. Book: Doyle , J.E. . The Official Baronage of England: Showing the Succession, Dignities, and Offices of Every Peer from 1066 to 1885, with Sixteen Hundred Illustrations. Longmans, Green. The Official Baronage of England: Showing the Succession, Dignities, and Offices of Every Peer from 1066 to 1885, with Sixteen Hundred Illustrations. v. 1. 1886. 30 April 2019. 46.
4. Book: Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. Kelly's Directories. v. 1931. 1931. 30 April 2019. 220.
5. Book: Cokayne , G.E. . Gibbs. V.. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom: Peers created 1901 to 1938. St. Catherine Press, Limited. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom: Extant, Extinct, Or Dormant. 1940. 30 April 2019. 67.
6. Web site: Lord Colebrooke, Official of Court . 1 March 1939 . The New York Times . Edward VIII in September, 1936, appointed him Master of the Robes. It was announced at the time that he would attend to the present Duke of Windsor's dress for the coronation..