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 Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for the administration of orders of chivalry and some aspects of 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.[1]
History and duties
The office was established by King Edward VII in April 1904[2] in response to the recommendations of a committee set up in 1902 to consider changes to the administration of the honours system. The new office replaced the ad hoc arrangements which had evolved over time.[1] The Central Chancery is headed by a Secretary, who is assisted by an Assistant Secretary.[3]
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[4][5] and of the Order of the British Empire.[6]
Since 1931, the office has been held by retired and active duty officers of the Armed Forces.
The current secretary, Lt.Col. Stephen Segrave, took part in the Royal Procession at the 2023 Coronation, leading the contingent representing orders of chivalry and gallantry award holders.[7]
List of secretaries
- Sir Francis Morgan Bryant Template:Post-nominals (1916–1931)
- Rear Admiral Philip John Hawkins Lander Row Template:Post-nominals (1931–1932)
- Commander Dudley Colles Template:Post-nominals (1932–1936)
- Major Sir Henry Hudson Fraser Stockley Template:Post-nominals (1936–1946)
- Brigadier Sir Ivan de la Bere Template:Post-nominals (1946–1960)
- Major General Sir Cyril Harry Colquhoun Template:Post-nominals (1960–1968)
- Major General Sir Peter Bernard Gillett Template:Post-nominals (1968–1979)
- Major General Sir Desmond Hind Garrett Rice Template:Post-nominals (1980–1989)
- Lieutenant Colonel Sir Walter Ross Template:Post-nominals (1989–1991)
- Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Charles McClure Mather Template:Post-nominals (1991–1999)[8]
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert Guy Cartwright (1999–2005)[9]
- Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Fergus Matheson of Matheson, 8th Baronet Template:Post-nominals (2005–2014)[10]
- Lieutenant Colonel James Vernon (2014–2019)[11]
- Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave (2019–present)[12]
References
External links
Template:British Honours System
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 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.
- ↑ Template:London Gazette
- ↑ Template:London Gazette
- ↑ Template:London Gazette
- ↑ "Royal Victorian Order", The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ "Mather, Lt-Col Anthony Charles Mcclure", Who's Who (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2017). Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ "Cartwright, Lt-Col. Robert Guy", Who's Who (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2017). Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ "Matheson of Matheson, Lt Colonel Sir Alexander Fergus", Who's Who (online ed., Oxford University Press, December 2017). Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ "The Royal Mint Advisory Committee" (Cabinet Office). Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ The Court Circular, 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.