Lord-Lieutenants and the Lieutenancy
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-07)

Information about Lord-Lieutenants, Vice Lord-Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants.

Overview of role

The office of Lord-Lieutenant has a military origin, with responsibilities for maintaining order and local defence in England and Wales dating from the time of Henry VIII. Deputies were introduced by 1569 and permanent Lieutenancies were established across England, Wales and Scotland in 1794, with varying powers to raise militia provided by several pieces of legislation in the intervening years. Ireland adopted county Lieutenancies in 1831, with the Government of Ireland Act 1920 removing Irish Lieutenancies except those in Northern Ireland. The Lord-Lieutenant’s power to call on able-bodied men gradually diminished towards the end of the 20th century, fully ending in 1921.

Today, Lord-Lieutenants are His Majesty’s representative in the county and as such will act to protect the dignity and integrity of the office they hold. Aside from royal duties, Lord-Lieutenants generally promote and encourage voluntary and charitable organisations and take an interest in the business, urban and rural and social life of the county.

Lord-Lieutenants give their time to the office voluntarily and are supported in their role by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants. All must be strictly apolitical in the performance of their Lieutenancy duties.

Certain duties are expected of the Lord-Lieutenant which include:
- arranging visits by Members of the Royal Family and escorting Royal visitors;
- representing The King, including presenting certain honours, medals and awards;
- encouraging and assessing honours nominations;
- liaising with local units of the armed forces and their associated reserve and cadet forces; and
- (in some counties in England and Wales) leading the local magistracy as Chairman of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace.
Summary of appointment process

Lord-Lieutenants

A wide-ranging consultation process takes place both locally and nationally to identify potential candidates. In England, this process is undertaken by the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary; in Scotland and Wales, by representatives from the Devolved Administrations; and in Northern Ireland, by the Northern Ireland Office.

The Prime Minister is notified of the results of the consultation process. The Prime Minister, after considering the results, will then make a recommendation to The King and ask for approval of the appointment.

Vice Lord-Lieutenants

The Lord-Lieutenant can nominate a Vice Lord-Lieutenant. The nomination is submitted to the Prime Minister, again through the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary, representatives from the Devolved Administration or the Northern Ireland Office. The Prime Minister will then make the recommendation to The King and ask for approval of the appointment.

Deputy Lieutenants

Deputy Lieutenants are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant. They are expected to carry out public duties on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant. This appointment does not require The Sovereign’s express approval.

Ending of an appointment

Lord-Lieutenants, Vice Lord-Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants are required to retire by the age of 75.

The formal process for removal from post (decommissioning) of a Lord-Lieutenant, Vice Lord-Lieutenant or Deputy Lieutenant can otherwise be triggered by a variety of circumstances that affect the reputational integrity of the post or impact negatively on the duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown. Some examples include receiving a criminal conviction, not complying with the terms of their appointment (such as becoming active in local politics), or other propriety and probity issues.

Queries and complaints

Queries and complaints should in the first instance be directed to the Lieutenancy office of the area concerned. If a member of the public has a query or complaint concerning a Lord-Lieutenant which cannot be resolved at a local level, the Cabinet Office Lieutenancy Policy team can be contacted by using this online contact form (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-the-cabinet-office) or by post:

Public Correspondence TeamCabinet Office70 WhitehallLondonSW1A 2AS

Detailed information about the Cabinet Office complaints procedure can be found here Complaints Procedure (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office/about/complaints-procedure)