View source for Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood

The '''Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood''', or simply the '''Central Chancery''', is an office of the [[Lord Chamberlain]]'s department within the [[Royal Households of the United Kingdom|Royal Household]] of the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Sovereign]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. It is responsible for the administration of [[orders of chivalry]] and some aspects of [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|honours]] in general. It does not deal with nominations or decisions on appointments, but rather administers the appointment procedures and investitures, and provides the insignia. It is a small office, with eight staff in 2019.<ref name=OMRS>Jonathan P. K. Smith. ''The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood''. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, volume 58, number 3, page 172. September 2019.</ref>

== History and duties ==

The office was established by [[King Edward VII]] in April 1904<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27663|page=2113|date=1 April 1904}}</ref> in response to the recommendations of a committee set up in 1902 to consider changes to the administration of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|honours system]]. The new office replaced the [[ad hoc]] arrangements which had evolved over time.<ref name=OMRS/> The Central Chancery is headed by a Secretary, who is assisted by an Assistant Secretary.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62008|page=14398|date=27 July 2017}}</ref>

Since 1991, the Secretary of the Central Chancery has been the same individual who serves as Assistant [[Comptroller]] to the [[Lord Chamberlain's Office]], and currently serves ''[[ex-officio]]'' as the registrar of the [[Royal Victorian Order]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32781|page=9160|date=29 December 1922}}</ref><ref>[http://royalchapelsavoy.org/royal-victorian-order/ "Royal Victorian Order"], ''The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy''. Retrieved 9 December 2017.</ref> and of the [[Order of the British Empire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.centralchancery.org.uk/Content/documents/OBENewsletterJan2018.pdf|title=The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Newsletter|date=January 2018|website=Centralchancerry.org.uk|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref>

Since 1931, the office has been held by retired and active duty officers of the [[British Armed Forces|Armed Forces]].

The current secretary, Lt.Col. Stephen Segrave, took part in the Royal Procession at the [[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla|2023 Coronation]], leading the contingent representing orders of chivalry and gallantry award holders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronation order of service in full |work=BBC News |date=5 May 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65503950 |access-date=6 May 2023}}</ref>

== List of secretaries ==

* Sir Francis Morgan Bryant {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CB|CVO|CBE|ISO}} (1916–1931)
* [[Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear Admiral]] Philip John Hawkins Lander Row {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CB|CVO}} (1931–1932)
* [[Commander (Royal Navy)|Commander]] [[Dudley Colles]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCB|KCVO|OBE}} (1932–1936)
* [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] Sir Henry Hudson Fraser Stockley {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCVO|OBE}} (1936–1946)
* [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] [[Ivan de la Bere|Sir Ivan de la Bere]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCVO|CB|CBE}} (1946–1960)
* [[Major General (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Cyril Colquhoun|Sir Cyril Harry Colquhoun]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCVO|CB|OBE}} (1960–1968)
* Major General [[Peter Gillett|Sir Peter Bernard Gillett]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCVO|CB|CBE}} (1968–1979)
* Major General [[Desmond Hind Garrett Rice|Sir Desmond Hind Garrett Rice]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCVO|CBE}} (1980–1989)
* [[Lieutenant Colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Malcolm Ross (courtier)|Sir Walter Ross]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCVO|OBE|GCStJ|DL}} (1989–1991)
* Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Charles McClure Mather {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}} (1991–1999)<ref>[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-26946 "Mather, Lt-Col Anthony Charles Mcclure"], ''Who's Who'' (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2017). Retrieved 9 December 2017.</ref>
* Lieutenant Colonel Robert Guy Cartwright (1999–2005)<ref>[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-10355 "Cartwright, Lt-Col. Robert Guy"], ''Who's Who'' (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2017). Retrieved 9 December 2017.</ref>
* Lieutenant Colonel [[Matheson baronets#Matheson baronets, of Lochalsh (1882)|Sir Alexander Fergus Matheson of Matheson, 8th Baronet]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|LVO|DL}} (2005–2014)<ref>[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-219669 "Matheson of Matheson, Lt Colonel Sir Alexander Fergus"], ''Who's Who'' (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2017). Retrieved 9 December 2017.</ref>
* Lieutenant Colonel James Vernon (2014–2019)<ref>[https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Candidate-Pack-Museums-Sector-Member.doc. "The Royal Mint Advisory Committee"] (Cabinet Office). Retrieved 9 December 2017.</ref>
* Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave (2019–present)<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/june-17-6grl7z75h The Court Circular, 17 June 2019]. Retrieved 17 October 2019.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official|https://www.centralchancery.org.uk/}}
* [http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHousehold/RoyalHouseholddepartments/TheLordChamberlainsOffice/Overview.aspx British Monarchy website]

{{British Honours System}}

[[Category:British honours system]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry of the United Kingdom]]