3 new appointments to the Historic Royal Palaces Board
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-27)

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Thomas Harris, Dan Jones and Dame Caroline Michel as trustees of HRP on 15 April 2025.

Thomas Harris

Thomas studied at Oxford University before qualifying with Price Waterhouse as a Chartered Accountant. He was Finance Director/CFO for many companies including HMV Canada, Body Shop UK, Virgin Megastores and Dyson worldwide. Thomas became a restorer of heritage buildings in his early 40’s and has worked on projects ranging from a Victorian worker’s cottage to a former girls‘ finishing school. He also became a Non-Executive Director, Chair of the audit committee and subsequently Chairman of Corps Security, employing over 4,000 staff and CFO of St Andrew’s Healthcare, a major mental health charity.

Thomas is also a Court member and recent Master of the Drapers’ Livery Company. He has overseen the re-presentation of their Livery Hall, opened a Free school on behalf of the company and is the former Chair of Governors.

Dan Jones

Dan Jones is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of many non-fiction books, including The Plantagenets, The Templars, Powers & Thrones and Henry V. He is a renowned writer, broadcaster and journalist. He has presented dozens of TV shows, including the Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles, and he writes and hosts the popular podcast This is History. His Essex Dogs trilogy of novels follow the fortunes of ordinary soldiers in the Hundred Years’ War. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Dame Caroline Michel

Since 2007, Caroline has been both the CEO of the literary and talent agency Peters Fraser and Dunlop (PFD) and has served as Chair and previously Trustee of Hay Literary Festival. She is also Chair of the BFI Trust, a Fellow of the RSA and Vice President of the London Library and Trustee of Historic Royal Palaces. She has served on boards as varied as the BFI, Somerset House, Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year and the Harpers’ Bazaar Short Story Competition. She has been a member of the Booker Prize Advisory Committee and the Chairman’s Circle, Southbank Centre. She has been a particular champion of libraries and librarians, serving as a panel expert for Library Services at DCMS.

These new Trustees have been appointed for a term of three years, commencing on 15 April 2025.

Remuneration and Governance Code

These roles are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/578498/governance_code_on_public_appointments_16_12_2016.pdf). The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.

Thomas Harris and Dan Jones have declared no political activity.

Dame Caroline has declared that she has made a minimal donation to the Labour Party which is considerably less than the recordable amount. She has undertaken no other political activity.

DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations) including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website (https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles).