# Lord Great Chamberlain

The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal but above the Lord High Constable. The office of Lord Great Chamberlain is an ancient one: it was first created around 1126 (in Norman times) and has been in continuous existence since 1138. The incumbent is Rupert Carington, 7th Baron Carrington.

## Duties

The Lord Great Chamberlain is entrusted by the Sovereign with custody of the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament, and serves as his or her representative therein. The Lord Great Chamberlain enjoys plenary jurisdiction in those precincts of the Palace of Westminster not assigned to either the House of Lords or the House of Commons: namely, the Royal Apartments, Central Lobby, and the Crypt Chapel. To this end, the Lord Great Chamberlain is responsible for the use, preservation, and occupation of such spaces. In addition, the Lord Great Chamberlain is one of the three commissioners who exercise control and maintenance over Westminster Hall; the other commissioners are the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords and the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Lord Great Chamberlain performs other less routine functions as custodian of the Palace of Westminster. For example, the Lord Great Chamberlain welcomes foreign heads of state visiting the Palace of Westminster. Likewise, the Lord Great Chamberlain is responsible for attending upon the Sovereign and other members of the British royal family whenever present at the parliamentary estate. In the latter case, the Lord Great Chamberlain is authorised to make any administrative arrangements necessary for delivery of services required by the Sovereign.
However, the Lord Great Chamberlain’s most publicly visible parliamentary role is participating in state openings of Parliament. To this end, the Lord Great Chamberlain receives the Sovereign at the Norman Porch, enrobes him or her with the Robe of State and the Imperial State Crown in the Robing Room, and leads the Sovereign’s procession through the Royal Gallery and the Prince's Chamber into the Lords Chamber. It is also the Lord Great Chamberlain who, upon the command of the Sovereign, directs Black Rod to summon members of the House of Commons to attend the House of Lords for the purpose of hearing the speech from the throne.
Parliamentary responsibilities aside, the Lord Great Chamberlain also has a major part to play in royal coronations, having the right to dress the monarch on coronation day and to serve the monarch water before and after the coronation banquet. Likewise, the Lord Great Chamberlain invests the monarch with the insignia of rule during the coronation service. On state occasions like coronations, the Lord Great Chamberlain wears a distinctive scarlet court uniform and bears a gold key and a white staff as the insignia of his office.
The office of Lord Great Chamberlain is distinct from the non-hereditary office of Lord Chamberlain of the Household, a position in the monarch's household. This office arose in the 14th century as a deputy of the Lord Great Chamberlain to fulfil the latter's duties in the Royal Household, but now they are quite distinct.
The House of Lords Act 1999 removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords, but the Act provided that a hereditary peer exercising the office of Lord Great Chamberlain (as well as the Earl Marshal) be exempt from such a rule, in order to perform ceremonial functions.

## Succession

The position is a hereditary one, held since 1780 in gross. At any one time, no single person actually exercises the office of Lord Great Chamberlain. The various individuals who hold fractions of the office are properly each Joint Hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain. They choose one individual of the rank of a knight or higher to be the Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain. Under an agreement made in 1912, the right to exercise the office for a given reign rotates among three families (of the then three joint office holders) in proportion to the fraction of the office held. For instance, the Marquesses of Cholmondeley hold one-half of the office, and may therefore exercise the office or appoint a deputy every alternate reign. Whenever one of the three shares of the 1912 agreement is split further, the joint heirs of this share have to agree among each other, who should be their deputy or any mechanism to determine who of them has the right to choose a deputy.

## History of the office

The office was originally held by Robert Malet, a son of one of the leading companions of William the Conqueror. In 1133, however, Henry I declared Malet's estates and titles forfeit, and awarded the office of Lord Great Chamberlain to Aubrey de Vere, whose son was created Earl of Oxford. Thereafter, the Earls of Oxford held the title almost continuously until 1526, with a few intermissions due to the forfeiture of some earls for treason. In 1526, however, John de Vere, 14th Earl of Oxford died, leaving his aunts as his heirs. The earldom was inherited by a more distant heir-male, his second cousin. Henry VIII then decreed that the office belonged to the Crown, and was not transmitted along with the earldom. The King appointed John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford to the office, but the appointment was deemed for life and was not hereditary. The family's association with the office was interrupted in 1540, when the 15th Earl died and Thomas Cromwell, the King's chief adviser, was appointed Lord Great Chamberlain. After Cromwell's attainder and execution later the same year, the office passed through a few more court figures, until 1553, when it was passed back to the de Vere family to John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford, again as an uninheritable life appointment. Later, Mary I ruled that the Earls of Oxford were indeed entitled to the office of Lord Great Chamberlain on an hereditary basis.
Thus, the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth Earls of Oxford held the position on a hereditary basis until 1626, when Henry de Vere, 18th Earl of Oxford died, again leaving a distant relative as heir male, but a closer one as a female heir. The House of Lords eventually ruled that the office belonged to the heir general, Robert Bertie, 14th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, who later became Earl of Lindsey. The office remained vested in the Earls of Lindsey, who later became Dukes of Ancaster and Kesteven.
In 1779, however, Robert Bertie, 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven died, leaving two sisters as female heirs, and an uncle as an heir male. The uncle became the 5th and last Duke, but the House of Lords ruled that the two sisters were jointly Lord Great Chamberlain and could appoint a Deputy to fulfil the functions of the office. The barony of Willoughby de Eresby fell into abeyance between the two sisters, but George III terminated the abeyance and granted the title to the elder sister, Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. The office of Lord Great Chamberlain, however, was divided between Priscilla and her younger sister Georgiana. Priscilla's share was eventually split between two of her granddaughters, and has been split several more times since then. By contrast, Georgiana's share has been inherited by a single male heir each time; that individual has in each case been the Marquess of Cholmondeley, a title created for Georgiana's husband.

### 20th and 21st centuries

In 1902 it was ruled by the House of Lords that the then joint office holders (Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster, George Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and Charles Wynn-Carrinton, 1st Earl Carrington, later Marquess of Lincolnshire) had to agree on a deputy to exercise the office, subject to the approval of the Sovereign. Should there be no such agreement, the Sovereign should appoint a deputy until an agreement be reached.
In 1912 an agreement was reached. The office, or right to appoint the person to exercise the office, would thereafter rotate among the three joint office holders and their heirs after them, changing at the start of each successive reign. Cholmondeley and his heirs would serve in every other reign; Ancaster and Carrington would each serve once in four reigns.
As the Cholmondeley share and the Ancaster share (held since 1983 by Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby) are not further split, each of these holders decides in his or her turn to act as Lord Great Chamberlain or to name a person who will act as Lord Great Chamberlain. The Carrington share was divided at his death among his five daughters and their heirs, and has since been further divided, with 11 people holding shares as of September 2022. At accession of Charles III the turn fell to the Carrington heirs who named their cousin Rupert Carington, 7th Baron Carrington, to act as Lord Great Chamberlain. Being descended from the Earl's younger brother he himself has no share of the office.
On 6 May 2023, the Lord Great Chamberlain presented spurs to King Charles III as part of Charles' coronation. The spurs were included among the first English coronation ornaments in 1189 and were used during the coronation of Richard I.

## Lord Great Chamberlains, 1130–1779

| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch (reign) |
| Robert Malet | 1130 | 1133 | Henry I (1100–1135) |
| Aubrey de Vere II | 1133 | 1141 | Henry I (1100–1135) |
| Aubrey de Vere II | 1133 | 1141 | Stephen (1135–1154) |
| Aubrey de Vere 1st Earl of Oxford | 1141 | 1194 | Stephen (1135–1154) |
| Aubrey de Vere 1st Earl of Oxford | 1141 | 1194 | Henry II (1154–1189) |
| Aubrey de Vere 1st Earl of Oxford | 1141 | 1194 | Richard I (1189–1199) |
| Aubrey de Vere 2nd Earl of Oxford | 1194 | 1214 | Richard I (1189–1199) |
| Aubrey de Vere 2nd Earl of Oxford | 1194 | 1214 | John (1199–1216) |
| Robert de Vere 3rd Earl of Oxford | 1214 | 1221 | John (1199–1216) |
| Robert de Vere 3rd Earl of Oxford | 1214 | 1221 | Henry III (1216–1272) |
| Hugh de Vere 4th Earl of Oxford | 1221 | 1263 | Henry III (1216–1272) |
| Robert de Vere 5th Earl of Oxford | 1263 | 1265 | Henry III (1216–1272) |
| unclear, perhaps vacant | 1265 | 1267 | Henry III (1216–1272) |
| unclear, perhaps again Robert de Vere 5th Earl of Oxford | 1267 | 1296 | Henry III (1216–1272) |
| unclear, perhaps again Robert de Vere 5th Earl of Oxford | 1267 | 1296 | Edward I (1272–1307) |
| Robert de Vere 6th Earl of Oxford | 1296 | 1331 | Edward I (1272–1307) |
| Robert de Vere 6th Earl of Oxford | 1296 | 1331 | Edward II (1307–1327) |
| Robert de Vere 6th Earl of Oxford | 1296 | 1331 | Edward III (1327–1377) |
| John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford | 1331 | 1360 | Edward III (1327–1377) |
| Thomas de Vere 8th Earl of Oxford | 1360 | 1371 | Edward III (1327–1377) |
| Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland KG | 1371 | 1388 | Edward III (1327–1377) |
| Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland KG | 1371 | 1388 | Richard II (1377–1399) |
| John Holland 1st Duke of Exeter | 1398 | 1399 | Richard II (1377–1399) |
| Aubrey de Vere 10th Earl of Oxford | 1399 | 1400 | Henry IV (1399–1413) |
| Richard de Vere 11th Earl of Oxford | 1400 | 1417 | Henry IV (1399–1413) |
| Richard de Vere 11th Earl of Oxford | 1400 | 1417 | Henry V (1413–1422) |
| John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford | 1417 | 1462 | Henry V (1413–1422) |
| John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford | 1417 | 1462 | Henry VI (1422–1461) |
| John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford | 1417 | 1462 | Edward IV (1461–1470) |
| John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford KG KB | 1462 | 1464 | Edward IV (1461–1470) |
| Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick KG | 1464 | 1471 | Edward IV (1461–1470) |
| Richard Neville 16th Earl of Warwick KG | 1464 | 1471 | Henry VI (1470–1471) |
| unclear | 1471 | 1475 | Edward IV (1471–1483) |
| Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland | 1475 | 1485 | Edward IV (1471–1483) |
| Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland | 1475 | 1485 | Edward V (1483) |
| Henry Percy 4th Earl of Northumberland | 1475 | 1485 | Richard III (1483–1485) |
| John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford KG KB | 1485 | 1513 | Henry VII (1485–1509) |
| John de Vere 13th Earl of Oxford KG KB | 1485 | 1513 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| John de Vere 14th Earl of Oxford | 1513 | 1526 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford KG PC | 1526 | 1540 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| Thomas Cromwell 1st Earl of Essex KG PC | 1540 | 1540 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| Robert Radcliffe 1st Earl of Sussex KG KB PC | 1540 | 1542 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| Edward Seymour 1st Duke of Somerset KG | 1543 | 1547 | Henry VIII (1509–1547) |
| John Dudley 1st Duke of Northumberland KG | 1547 | 1549 | Edward VI (1547–1553) |
| William Parr 1st Marquess of Northampton KG | 1549 | 1553 | Edward VI (1547–1553) |
| John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford | 1553 | 1562 | Mary I (1553–1558) |
| John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford | 1553 | 1562 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford | 1562 | 1604 | Elizabeth I (1558–1603) |
| Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford | 1562 | 1604 | James I (1603–1625) |
| Henry de Vere 18th Earl of Oxford | 1604 | 1625 | James I (1603–1625) |
| Robert Bertie 1st Earl of Lindsay | 1625 | 1642 | Charles I (1625–1649) |
| Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl of Lindsay KG PC | 1642 | 1666 | Charles I (1625–1649) |
| Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl of Lindsay KG PC | 1642 | 1666 | Interregnum (1649–1660) |
| Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl of Lindsay KG PC | 1642 | 1666 | Charles II (1660–1685) |
| Robert Bertie 3rd Earl of Lindsay PC FRS | 1666 | 1701 | Charles II (1660–1685) |
| Robert Bertie 3rd Earl of Lindsay PC FRS | 1666 | 1701 | James II (1685–1688) |
| Robert Bertie 3rd Earl of Lindsay PC FRS | 1666 | 1701 | Mary II (1689–1694) William III (1689–1702) |
| Robert Bertie 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1701 | 1723 | Mary II (1689–1694) William III (1689–1702) |
| Robert Bertie 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1701 | 1723 | Anne (1702–1714) |
| Robert Bertie 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1701 | 1723 | George I (1714–1727) |
| Peregrine Bertie 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1723 | 1742 | George I (1714–1727) |
| Peregrine Bertie 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1723 | 1742 | George II (1727–1760) |
| Peregrine Bertie 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1742 | 1778 | George II (1727–1760) |
| Peregrine Bertie 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1742 | 1778 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Robert Bertie 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC | 1778 | 1779 | George III (1760–1820) |

## Joint hereditary Lord Great Chamberlains, 1780–present

The fractions show the holder's share in the office, and the date they held it. The current (as of 2022) holders of the office are shown in bold face.
Joint hereditary Lord Great Chamberlains, 1780–present :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven | Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven | Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven | Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven | Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven | Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven |
| | | | | | | Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1780–1828 | Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1780–1828 | Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1780–1828 | Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1780–1828 | Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1780–1828 | Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1780–1828 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1780–1838 | Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1780–1838 | Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1780–1838 | Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1780–1838 | Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1780–1838 | Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1780–1838 |
| | | | | | | Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1828–1865 | Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1828–1865 | Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1828–1865 | Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1828–1865 | Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1828–1865 | Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1828–1865 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1838–1870 | George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1838–1870 | George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1838–1870 | George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1838–1870 | George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1838–1870 | George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1838–1870 | William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1870–1884 | William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1870–1884 | William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1870–1884 | William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1870–1884 | William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1870–1884 | William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1870–1884 |
| Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1865–1870 | Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1865–1870 | Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1865–1870 | Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1865–1870 | Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1865–1870 | Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄2 1865–1870 | Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1870–1888 | Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1870–1888 | Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1870–1888 | Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1870–1888 | Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1870–1888 | Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1870–1888 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Charlotte Augusta Carrington, Lady Carrington 1⁄4 1870–1879 | Charlotte Augusta Carrington, Lady Carrington 1⁄4 1870–1879 | Charlotte Augusta Carrington, Lady Carrington 1⁄4 1870–1879 | Charlotte Augusta Carrington, Lady Carrington 1⁄4 1870–1879 | Charlotte Augusta Carrington, Lady Carrington 1⁄4 1870–1879 | Charlotte Augusta Carrington, Lady Carrington 1⁄4 1870–1879 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Charles George Cholmondeley | Charles George Cholmondeley | Charles George Cholmondeley | Charles George Cholmondeley | Charles George Cholmondeley | Charles George Cholmondeley |
| | | | | | | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1888–1910 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1888–1910 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1888–1910 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1888–1910 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1888–1910 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1888–1910 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1⁄4 1879–1928 | Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1⁄4 1879–1928 | Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1⁄4 1879–1928 | Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1⁄4 1879–1928 | Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1⁄4 1879–1928 | Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1⁄4 1879–1928 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | George Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1884–1923 | George Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1884–1923 | George Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1884–1923 | George Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1884–1923 | George Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1884–1923 | George Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1884–1923 |
| | | | | | | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1910–1951 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1910–1951 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1910–1951 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1910–1951 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1910–1951 | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1910–1951 | Marjorie Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Marjorie Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Marjorie Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Marjorie Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Marjorie Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Marjorie Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1928–1968 | | | | | | | Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1928–1955 | Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1928–1955 | Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1928–1955 | Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1928–1955 | Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1928–1955 | Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1928–1955 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1⁄20 1928–1963 | Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1⁄20 1928–1963 | Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1⁄20 1928–1963 | Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1⁄20 1928–1963 | Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1⁄20 1928–1963 | Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1⁄20 1928–1963 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Judith Keppel, Countess of Albemarle | Judith Keppel, Countess of Albemarle | Judith Keppel, Countess of Albemarle | Judith Keppel, Countess of Albemarle | Judith Keppel, Countess of Albemarle | Judith Keppel, Countess of Albemarle | Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1⁄20 1928–1966 | Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1⁄20 1928–1966 | Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1⁄20 1928–1966 | Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1⁄20 1928–1966 | Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1⁄20 1928–1966 | Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1⁄20 1928–1966 | George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1923–1968 | George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1923–1968 | George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1923–1968 | George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1923–1968 | George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1923–1968 | George Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1923–1968 |
| | | | | | | James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1951–1983 | James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1951–1983 | James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1951–1983 | James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1951–1983 | James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1951–1983 | James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1⁄4 1951–1983 | Charles Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1968–1974 | Charles Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1968–1974 | Charles Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1968–1974 | Charles Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1968–1974 | Charles Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1968–1974 | Charles Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1968–1974 | Brig. Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1955–1990 | Brig. Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1955–1990 | Brig. Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1955–1990 | Brig. Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1955–1990 | Brig. Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1955–1990 | Brig. Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1955–1990 | Col. Charles Timothy Llewellen Palmer | Col. Charles Timothy Llewellen Palmer | Col. Charles Timothy Llewellen Palmer | Col. Charles Timothy Llewellen Palmer | Col. Charles Timothy Llewellen Palmer | Col. Charles Timothy Llewellen Palmer | Lady Mary Findlay 1⁄100 1963–2003 | Lady Mary Findlay 1⁄100 1963–2003 | Lady Mary Findlay 1⁄100 1963–2003 | Lady Mary Findlay 1⁄100 1963–2003 | Lady Mary Findlay 1⁄100 1963–2003 | Lady Mary Findlay 1⁄100 1963–2003 | Lady Elizabeth Basset 1⁄100 1963–2000 | Lady Elizabeth Basset 1⁄100 1963–2000 | Lady Elizabeth Basset 1⁄100 1963–2000 | Lady Elizabeth Basset 1⁄100 1963–2000 | Lady Elizabeth Basset 1⁄100 1963–2000 | Lady Elizabeth Basset 1⁄100 1963–2000 | | | | | | | Lady Diana Matthews 1⁄100 1963–1970 | Lady Diana Matthews 1⁄100 1963–1970 | Lady Diana Matthews 1⁄100 1963–1970 | Lady Diana Matthews 1⁄100 1963–1970 | Lady Diana Matthews 1⁄100 1963–1970 | Lady Diana Matthews 1⁄100 1963–1970 | Lady Barbara Kwiatkowska 1⁄100 1963–2013 | Lady Barbara Kwiatkowska 1⁄100 1963–2013 | Lady Barbara Kwiatkowska 1⁄100 1963–2013 | Lady Barbara Kwiatkowska 1⁄100 1963–2013 | Lady Barbara Kwiatkowska 1⁄100 1963–2013 | Lady Barbara Kwiatkowska 1⁄100 1963–2013 | Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1⁄100 1963–1995 | Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1⁄100 1963–1995 | Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1⁄100 1963–1995 | Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1⁄100 1963–1995 | Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1⁄100 1963–1995 | Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1⁄100 1963–1995 | Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1⁄20 1928–1968 | Sir Henry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1966–1973 | Sir Henry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1966–1973 | Sir Henry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1966–1973 | Sir Henry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1966–1973 | Sir Henry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1966–1973 | Sir Henry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1966–1973 | Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1968–1990 | Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1968–1990 | Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1968–1990 | Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1968–1990 | Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1968–1990 | Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1968–1990 |
| | | | | | | Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1983–present | Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1983–present | Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1983–present | Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1983–present | Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1983–present | Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1⁄4 1983–present | Ben Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1974–1998 | Ben Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1974–1998 | Ben Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1974–1998 | Ben Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1974–1998 | Ben Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1974–1998 | Ben Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1⁄20 1974–1998 | | | | | | | Julian Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1990–2002 | Julian Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1990–2002 | Julian Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1990–2002 | Julian Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1990–2002 | Julian Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1990–2002 | Julian Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 1990–2002 | Cdr Jonathan Findlay 1⁄100 2003–2015 | Cdr Jonathan Findlay 1⁄100 2003–2015 | Cdr Jonathan Findlay 1⁄100 2003–2015 | Cdr Jonathan Findlay 1⁄100 2003–2015 | Cdr Jonathan Findlay 1⁄100 2003–2015 | Cdr Jonathan Findlay 1⁄100 2003–2015 | Bryan Basset 1⁄100 2000–2010 | Bryan Basset 1⁄100 2000–2010 | Bryan Basset 1⁄100 2000–2010 | Bryan Basset 1⁄100 2000–2010 | Bryan Basset 1⁄100 2000–2010 | Bryan Basset 1⁄100 2000–2010 | | | | | | | Col James Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 1970–2025 | Col James Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 1970–2025 | Col James Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 1970–2025 | Col James Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 1970–2025 | Col James Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 1970–2025 | Col James Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 1970–2025 | Jan Witold Kwiatkowski 1⁄100 2013–present | Jan Witold Kwiatkowski 1⁄100 2013–present | Jan Witold Kwiatkowski 1⁄100 2013–present | Jan Witold Kwiatkowski 1⁄100 2013–present | Jan Witold Kwiatkowski 1⁄100 2013–present | Jan Witold Kwiatkowski 1⁄100 2013–present | Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall 1⁄100 1995–present | Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall 1⁄100 1995–present | Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall 1⁄100 1995–present | Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall 1⁄100 1995–present | Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall 1⁄100 1995–present | Patrick Chichester, 8th Marquess of Donegall 1⁄100 1995–present | Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1⁄20 1968–present | Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1⁄20 1968–present | Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1⁄20 1968–present | Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1⁄20 1968–present | Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1⁄20 1968–present | Rufus Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1⁄20 1968–present | William Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1973–2009 | William Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1973–2009 | William Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1973–2009 | William Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1973–2009 | William Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1973–2009 | William Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 1973–2009 | David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1990–present | David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1990–present | David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1990–present | David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1990–present | David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1990–present | David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1⁄2 1990–present |
| The Hon. Lorraine Wilson 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Lorraine Wilson 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Lorraine Wilson 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Lorraine Wilson 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Lorraine Wilson 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Lorraine Wilson 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Tatiana Dent 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Tatiana Dent 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Tatiana Dent 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Tatiana Dent 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Tatiana Dent 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Tatiana Dent 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Ines Garton 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Ines Garton 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Ines Garton 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Ines Garton 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Ines Garton 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Ines Garton 1⁄80 1998–2022 1⁄60 2022–present | The Hon. Ysabel Williams 1⁄80 1998–2022 | The Hon. Ysabel Williams 1⁄80 1998–2022 | The Hon. Ysabel Williams 1⁄80 1998–2022 | The Hon. Ysabel Williams 1⁄80 1998–2022 | The Hon. Ysabel Williams 1⁄80 1998–2022 | The Hon. Ysabel Williams 1⁄80 1998–2022 | Nicholas Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 2002–present | Nicholas Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 2002–present | Nicholas Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 2002–present | Nicholas Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 2002–present | Nicholas Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 2002–present | Nicholas Llewellen Palmer 1⁄20 2002–present | Christopher Findlay 1⁄100 2015–present | Christopher Findlay 1⁄100 2015–present | Christopher Findlay 1⁄100 2015–present | Christopher Findlay 1⁄100 2015–present | Christopher Findlay 1⁄100 2015–present | Christopher Findlay 1⁄100 2015–present | David Basset 1⁄100 2010 | David Basset 1⁄100 2010 | David Basset 1⁄100 2010 | David Basset 1⁄100 2010 | David Basset 1⁄100 2010 | David Basset 1⁄100 2010 | Michael James Basset 1⁄100 2010–present | Michael James Basset 1⁄100 2010–present | Michael James Basset 1⁄100 2010–present | Michael James Basset 1⁄100 2010–present | Michael James Basset 1⁄100 2010–present | Michael James Basset 1⁄100 2010–present | Mark Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 2025-present | Mark Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 2025-present | Mark Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 2025-present | Mark Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 2025-present | Mark Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 2025-present | Mark Hamilton-Russell 1⁄100 2025-present | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Capt. Harry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 2009–present | Capt. Harry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 2009–present | Capt. Harry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 2009–present | Capt. Harry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 2009–present | Capt. Harry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 2009–present | Capt. Harry Legge-Bourke 1⁄20 2009–present |

## Persons exercising the office of Lord Great Chamberlain, 1780–present

| Name | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch (reign) |
| Peter Burrell 1st Baron Gwydyr | 1780 | 1820 | George III (1760–1820) |
| Peter Burrell 1st Baron Gwydyr | 1780 | 1820 | George IV (1820–1830) |
| Peter Drummond-Burrell 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby PC | 1821 | 1830 | George IV (1820–1830) |
| George Cholmondeley 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley PC | 1830 | 1837 | William IV (1830–1837) |
| Peter Drummond-Burrell 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby PC | 1837 | 1865 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Albyric Drummond-Willoughby 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby | 1865 | 1870 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby 25th Baron Willoughby de Eresby PC | 1871 | 1901 | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| George Cholmondeley 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley PC DL | 1901 | 1910 | Edward VII (1901–1910) |
| Charles Wynn-Carington 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire KG GCMG PC JP DL | 1910 | 1928 | George V (1910–1936) |
| William Legge Viscount Lewisham GCVO TD | 1928 | 1936 | George V (1910–1936) |
| George Cholmondeley 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley GCVO | 1936 | 1936 | Edward VIII (1936) |
| Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby 2nd Earl of Ancaster GCVO JP DL | 1936 | 1951 | George VI (1936–1952) |
| James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby 3rd Earl of Ancaster TD | 1951 | 1952 | George VI (1936–1952) |
| George Cholmondeley 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley GCVO | 1952 | 1966 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Hugh Cholmondeley 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley GCVO MC DL | 1966 | 1990 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| David Cholmondeley 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley GCVO DL | 1990 | 2022 | Elizabeth II (1952–2022) |
| Rupert Carington 7th Baron Carrington DL | 2022 | present | Charles III (2022–present) |