Lord Chamberlain
Encyclopedia
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household
in the United Kingdom
and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain
, one of the Great Officers of State
.
The Lord Chamberlain is always sworn of the Privy Council
, is usually a peer
and before 1782 the post was of Cabinet rank
. Until 1924, the position was a political one. The Lord Chamberlain is the chief functionary of the court and is generally responsible for organizing all court functions. He is considered the "senior official" of the Royal Household.
The office dates from the Middle Ages
, when the King’s Chamberlain often acted as the King's spokesman in Council
and Parliament
.
The current Lord Chamberlain is The Earl Peel
, who has been in office since 16 October 2006.
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The Lord Chamberlain is the senior official of the Royal Household and oversees its business, including liaising with the other senior officers of the Household, chairing Heads of Department meetings, and advising in the appointment of senior Household officials. They also undertake ceremonial duties and serve as the channel of communication between the Sovereign and the House of Lords
.
The Lord Chamberlain's Office
is a department of the Royal Household and is headed by the Comptroller. It is responsible for organising ceremonial activities including state visits, investitures, garden parties, the State Opening of Parliament, weddings and funerals.
gave the Lord Chamberlain the statutory authority to veto the performance of any new plays: he could prevent any new play, or any modification to an existing play, from being performed for any reason, and theatre owners could be prosecuted for staging a play (or part of a play) that had not received prior approval. This act was replaced by the Theatres Act 1843
, which restricted the powers of the Lord Chamberlain so that he could only prohibit the performance of plays where he was of the opinion that "it is fitting for the preservation of good manners, decorum or of the public peace so to do". This duty was abolished under the Theatres Act 1968
; the first London performance of the musical Hair
was delayed until the act was passed after a licence had been refused.
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain
Lord Great Chamberlain
The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable...
, one of the Great Officers of State
Great Officer of State
In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are traditional Crown ministers, who either inherit their positions or are appointed to exercise certain largely ceremonial functions. Separate Great Officers exist for England and Scotland, and formerly for Ireland...
.
The Lord Chamberlain is always sworn of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, is usually a peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and before 1782 the post was of Cabinet rank
Cabinet rank
A person who is of Cabinet rank holds a ministerial position in a government. They sit in Cabinet and form the highest body of leadership in a government.-United Kingdom:...
. Until 1924, the position was a political one. The Lord Chamberlain is the chief functionary of the court and is generally responsible for organizing all court functions. He is considered the "senior official" of the Royal Household.
The office dates from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, when the King’s Chamberlain often acted as the King's spokesman in Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
and Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
.
The current Lord Chamberlain is The Earl Peel
William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel
William James Robert Peel, 3rd Earl Peel GCVO, PC, DL , styled Viscount Clanfield until 1969, is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords and Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household.-Background and education:...
, who has been in office since 16 October 2006.
Duties
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
The Lord Chamberlain's Office
Lord Chamberlain's Office
The Lord Chamberlain's Office is a department within the British Royal Household. It is presently concerned with matters such as protocol, state visits, investitures, garden parties, the State Opening of Parliament, royal weddings and funerals. For example, in April 2005 it organised the wedding of...
is a department of the Royal Household and is headed by the Comptroller. It is responsible for organising ceremonial activities including state visits, investitures, garden parties, the State Opening of Parliament, weddings and funerals.
Theatre censorship
The Licensing Act 1737Licensing Act 1737
The Licensing Act or Theatrical Licensing Act of 21 June 1737 was a landmark act of censorship of the British stage and one of the most determining factors in the development of Augustan drama...
gave the Lord Chamberlain the statutory authority to veto the performance of any new plays: he could prevent any new play, or any modification to an existing play, from being performed for any reason, and theatre owners could be prosecuted for staging a play (or part of a play) that had not received prior approval. This act was replaced by the Theatres Act 1843
Theatres Act 1843
The Theatres Act 1843 was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It amended the regime established under the Licensing Act 1737 for the licensing of the theatre in the UK, implementing the proposals made by a select committee of the House of Commons in 1832.Under the Licensing Act 1737 The...
, which restricted the powers of the Lord Chamberlain so that he could only prohibit the performance of plays where he was of the opinion that "it is fitting for the preservation of good manners, decorum or of the public peace so to do". This duty was abolished under the Theatres Act 1968
Theatres Act 1968
The Theatres Act 1968 abolished censorship of the stage in the United Kingdom.Since 1737, scripts had been licensed for performance by the Lord Chamberlain's Office a measure initially introduced to protect Walpole's administration from political satire...
; the first London performance of the musical Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
was delayed until the act was passed after a licence had been refused.
List of Lords Chamberlain of the Household
Lords Chamberlain since 1399 to the present:| Name | Entered office | Left office | Notes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Erpingham, from 1400 Sir Thomas | 1399 | 1404 | ||
| The Lord Grey of Codnor Richard Grey, 4th Baron Grey of Codnor Richard Grey, 1st or 4th Baron Grey of Codnor KG was an English soldier and diplomat.-Military and diplomatic service:In 1400 he was appointed Admiral of the king's fleet from the Thames to the north, and in the same year was made Governor of Roxburgh Castle... |
1404 | 1413 | ||
| The Lord FitzHugh Henry FitzHugh, 3rd Baron FitzHugh Henry FitzHugh, 3rd Baron FitzHugh KG was an English administrator and diplomat who served under Henry IV and Henry V.-Royal service:Summoned to parliament in 1388, FitzHugh became active in public affairs following Henry IV's succession... |
1413 | 1425 | ||
| The Lord Cromwell Ralph de Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell Ralph de Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell was an English politician and diplomat. A Privy Councillor from 1422, he served as Treasurer of England and twice as Chamberlain of the Household during the reign of Henry VI.... |
1432 | First period in office | ||
| The Lord Bardolf William Phelip, 6th Baron Bardolf Sir William Phelip, 6th Baron Bardolf, KG was Treasurer of the King's Household and Royal Chamberlain.Sir William Phelip was son of Sir John Phelip of Dennington, Suffolk, knight, and is described as being a valiant soldier in the wars in France during the reign of King Henry V of England... |
1432 | 1441 | ||
| Sir Ralph Boteler Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley and 6th Baron Sudeley KG was an English baron and aristocrat. He was the Captain of Calais and Treasurer of England .-Family:... , from 1441 The Lord Sudeley |
1441 | 1447 | ||
| The Lord Saye and Sele James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele was an English soldier and politician, son of Sir William Fiennes and wife Elizabeth Batisford .... |
1447 | 1450 | ||
| The Lord Cromwell Ralph de Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell Ralph de Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell was an English politician and diplomat. A Privy Councillor from 1422, he served as Treasurer of England and twice as Chamberlain of the Household during the reign of Henry VI.... |
1450 | 1455 | Second period in office | |
| Thomas Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley, titular King of Mann, KG , was an English politician.-Life:Stanley was the son of Sir John Stanley and Isabell Harington, daughter of Robert de Harington and Isabel Loring... , from 1456 The Lord Stanley |
1455 | 1459 | ||
| The Earl of Salisbury Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury Richard Neville, jure uxoris 5th Earl of Salisbury and 7th and 4th Baron Montacute, KG, PC was a Yorkist leader during the early parts of the Wars of the Roses.-Background:... |
1460 | 1460 | ||
| The Lord Hastings William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings KG was an English nobleman. A follower of the House of York, he became a close friend and the most important courtier of King Edward IV, whom he served as Lord Chamberlain... |
1461 | 1470 | First period in office | |
| Unknown | 1470 | 1471 | Second reign of Henry VI Henry VI of England Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars... |
|
| The Lord Hastings William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings KG was an English nobleman. A follower of the House of York, he became a close friend and the most important courtier of King Edward IV, whom he served as Lord Chamberlain... |
1471 | 1483 | Second period in office | |
| The Viscount Lovell Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell Francis Lovell, 9th Baron Lovell, 6th Baron Holand, later 1st Viscount Lovell was an English nobleman. He probably knew the later King Richard III of England from a young age, and was to become his lifelong friend and staunch ally.... |
1483 | 1485 | ||
| Sir William Stanley William Stanley (Battle of Bosworth) Sir William Stanley was an English soldier and the younger brother of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby. Stanley fought with his troops in several battles of the Wars of the Roses.-Private life:... |
1485 | 1494 | ||
| The Lord Daubeny | 1494 | 1508 | ||
| The Lord Herbert Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester was the legitimised son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset and Joan Hill.-Biography:He was born around 1460 to Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset and Joan Hill... , from 1514 The Earl of Worcester |
1509 | 1526 | ||
| The Earl of Arundel William FitzAlan, 18th Earl of Arundel William FitzAlan, 18th Earl of Arundel, 8th Baron Maltravers was an English peer, styled as Lord Maltravers from 1487 to 1524.... |
1526 | 1530 | ||
| The Lord Sandys | 1530 | 1540 | ||
| Vacant | 1540 | 1543 | ||
| The Lord St John William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester Sir William Paulet was an English Secretary of State and statesman who attained several peerages throughout his lifetime: Baron St John , Earl of Wiltshire , and Marquess of Winchester .-Family origins and early career in Hampshire:William Paulet was eldest son of Sir John Paulet of... |
1543 | 1545 | Created The Earl of Wiltshire in 1550 and The Marquess of Winchester in 1551 | |
| Unknown | 1545 | 1546 | ||
| The Earl of Arundel | 1546 | 1550 | ||
| The Lord Wentworth Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth and de jure 6th Baron le Despencer, PC was an English peer and courtier during the Tudor dynasty.... |
1550 | 1551 | ||
| The Lord Darcy of Chiche Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche KG was an English courtier during the reign of Edward VI. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household and Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard between 1550 and 1551 before his appointment as Lord Chamberlain of the Household... |
1551 | 1553 | ||
| Sir John Gage | 1553 | 1556 | ||
| Unknown | 1556 | 1557 | ||
| Sir Edward Hastings, from 1558 The Lord Hastings of Loughborough | 1557 | 1558 | ||
| The Lord Howard of Effingham William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham , was the eldest son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk by his second wife, Agnes Tilney... |
1558 | 1572 | ||
| The Earl of Sussex Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex Thomas Radclyffe 3rd Earl of Sussex was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland during the Tudor period of English history, and a leading courtier during the reign of Elizabeth I.- Family:... |
1572 | 1583 | ||
| Unknown | 1583 | 1585 | ||
| The Lord Hunsdon Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, of Hunsdon was an English nobleman.He was the son of Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn and also the mistress to King Henry VIII of England... |
1585 | 1596 | ||
| The Lord Cobham William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and a Member of Parliament for Hythe. Although he was viewed by some as a religious radical during the Somerset protectorate, he entertained Elizabeth at Cobham Hall in 1559, signalling his acceptance of the moderate regime.His... |
1596 | 1597 | ||
| The Lord Hunsdon George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon KG was the eldest son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and Anne Morgan. His father was first cousin to Elizabeth I of England.... |
1597 | 1603 | ||
| Lord Thomas Howard Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk Admiral Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, KG, PC was a son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk by his second wife Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk, the daughter and heiress of the 1st Baron Audley of Walden.... , from 1603 The Earl of Suffolk |
1603 | 1614 | ||
| The Earl of Somerset Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, , was a politician, and favourite of King James I of England.-Background:Robert Kerr was born in Wrington, Somerset, England the younger son of Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehurst, Scotland by his second wife, Janet, sister of Walter Scott of Buccleuch... |
1614 | 1615 | ||
| The Earl of Pembroke William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, KG, PC was the son of Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke and his third wife Mary Sidney. Chancellor of the University of Oxford, he founded Pembroke College, Oxford with King James. He was warden of the Forest of Dean, and constable of St Briavels from 1608... |
1615 | 1626 | ||
| The Earl of Montgomery Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke and 1st Earl of Montgomery KG was an English courtier and politician active during the reigns of James I and Charles I... , from 1630 The Earl of Pembroke |
1626 | 1641 | ||
| The Earl of Essex Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads... |
1641 | 1642 | ||
| Unknown | 1642 | 1644 | ||
| The Earl of Dorset Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset KG was the son of Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl of Dorset and the brother and heir of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset.-Life:... |
1644 | 1649 | ||
| Vacant due to The Commonwealth Commonwealth of England The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland... and The Protectorate The Protectorate In British history, the Protectorate was the period 1653–1659 during which the Commonwealth of England was governed by a Lord Protector.-Background:... |
1649 | 1655 | ||
| Sir Gilbert Pickering, Bt Gilbert Pickering Sir Gilbert Pickering, 1st Baronet was a regicide, a member of the English Council of State during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, and a member of Cromwell's Upper House.-Biography:... |
1655 | 1659 | Lord Chamberlain during The Protectorate | |
| The Earl of Manchester Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester KG, KB, FRS was an important commander of Parliamentary forces in the First English Civil War, and for a time Oliver Cromwell's superior.-Life:... |
1660 | 1671 | ||
| The Earl of St Albans Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of Saint Albans KG was an English politician and courtier. He sat in the in the House of Commons at various times between 1625 and 1643 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Jermyn... |
1672 | 1674 | ||
| The Earl of Arlington Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington KG, PC was an English statesman.- Background and early life :He was the son of Sir John Bennet of Dawley, Middlesex, and of Dorothy Crofts. He was the younger brother of John Bennet, 1st Baron Ossulston; his sister was Elizabeth Bennet who married Robert Kerr,... |
1674 | 1685 | ||
| The Earl of Elgin and Earl of Ailesbury Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury and 2nd Earl of Elgin, PC, FRS was the son of Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin.... |
1685 | 1685 | ||
| The Earl of Mulgrave John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, KG, PC , was a poet and notable Tory politician of the late Stuart period, who served as Lord Privy Seal and Lord President of the Council.-Career:... |
1685 | 1688 | Created The Marquess of Normanby in 1694 and The Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703 | |
| The Earl of Dorset Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset and 1st Earl of Middlesex was an English poet and courtier.-Early Life:He was son of Richard Sackville, 5th Earl of Dorset... |
1689 | 1697 | ||
| The Earl of Sunderland Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland KG, PC was an English statesman and nobleman.-Life:Born in Paris, son of Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland, Spencer inherited his father's peerage dignities at the age of three, becoming Baron Spencer of Wormleighton and Earl of Sunderland... |
1697 | 1697 | ||
| Vacant | 1697 | 1699 | The King William III of England William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland... did not accept the resignation of the Earl of Sunderland |
|
| The Duke of Shrewsbury Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury, KG, PC was an English statesman. Born to Roman Catholic parents, he remained in that faith until 1679 when—during the time of the Popish Plot and following the advice of the divine John Tillotson—he converted to the Church of England... |
1699 | 1700 | ||
| The Earl of Jersey Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey son of Sir Edward Villiers of Richmond and Frances Howard, the youngest daughter of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk and Elizabeth Hume, was created Baron Villiers and Viscount Villiers in 1691 and Earl of Jersey in 1697.His grandfather, Sir Edward... |
1700 | 1704 | ||
| The Earl of Kent Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent KG PC was a British politician and courtier.-Family:He was a son of Anthony Grey, 11th Earl of Kent and Mary Grey, 1st Baroness Lucas of Crudwell... , from 1706 The Marquess of Kent |
1704 | 1710 | Created The Duke of Kent in 1710 and The Marquess Grey in 1740 | |
| The Duke of Shrewsbury Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury, KG, PC was an English statesman. Born to Roman Catholic parents, he remained in that faith until 1679 when—during the time of the Popish Plot and following the advice of the divine John Tillotson—he converted to the Church of England... |
1710 | 1715 | ||
| The Duke of Bolton Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton KG PC was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Member of Parliament for Hampshire and a supporter of William III of Orange.... |
1715 | 1717 | ||
| The Duke of Newcastle | 1717 | 1724 | ||
| The Duke of Grafton Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton KG PC was an Irish and English politician.He was born the only child of Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton and Isabella Bennet, 2nd Countess of Arlington... |
1724 | 1757 | ||
| The Duke of Devonshire William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, KG, PC , styled Lord Cavendish before 1729 and Marquess of Hartington between 1729 and 1755, was a British Whig statesman who was briefly nominal Prime Minister of Great Britain... |
1757 | 1762 | ||
| The Duke of Marlborough George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough KG, PC, FRS , styled Marquess of Blandford until 1758, was a British courtier and politician... |
1762 | 1763 | ||
| The Earl Gower Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Marquess of Stafford PC , known as Viscount Trentham from 1746 to 1754 and as The Earl Gower from 1754 to 1786, was a British politician.-Background:... |
1763 | 1765 | Created The Marquess of Stafford in 1786 | |
| The Duke of Portland William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, KG, PC was a British Whig and Tory statesman, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Prime Minister. He was known before 1762 by the courtesy title Marquess of Titchfield. He held a title of every degree of British nobility—Duke,... |
1765 | 1766 | ||
| The Earl of Hertford Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford KG, PC, PC was a British courtier and politician.He was born in Chelsea, London the son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Lord Conway and Charlotte Shorter and died in Surrey, England... |
1766 | 1782 | First period in office; created The Marquess of Hertford in 1793 | |
| The Duke of Manchester George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester PC was a British politician and diplomat.Manchester was the son of Robert Montagu, 3rd Duke of Manchester.... |
1782 | 1783 | ||
| The Earl of Hertford Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford KG, PC, PC was a British courtier and politician.He was born in Chelsea, London the son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Lord Conway and Charlotte Shorter and died in Surrey, England... |
1783 | 1783 | Second period in office; created The Marquess of Hertford in 1793 | |
| The Earl of Salisbury James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury, KG, PC , styled Viscount Cranborne until 1780 and known as 7th Earl of Salisbury between 1780 and 1789, was a British politician.-Background:... , from 1789 The Marquess of Salisbury |
1783 | 1804 | ||
| The Earl of Dartmouth George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth KG, PC, FRS , styled Viscount Lewisham until 1801, was a British politician.-Background:... |
1804 | 1810 | ||
| Vacant | 1810 | 1812 | ||
| The Marquess of Hertford | 1812 | 1821 | ||
| The Duke of Montrose James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose KG, KT, PC , styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.-Background:... |
1821 | 1827 | First period in office | |
| The Duke of Devonshire William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled Marquess of Hartington until 1811, was a British peer, courtier and Whig politician... |
1827 | 1828 | First period in office | |
| The Duke of Montrose James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose KG, KT, PC , styled Marquess of Graham until 1790, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman.-Background:... |
1828 | 1830 | Second period in office | |
| The Earl of Jersey | 1830 | 1830 | First period in office | |
| The Duke of Devonshire William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire KG, PC , styled Marquess of Hartington until 1811, was a British peer, courtier and Whig politician... |
1830 | 1834 | Second period in office | |
| The Earl of Jersey | 1834 | 1835 | Second period in office | |
| The Marquess Wellesley Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, KG, PC, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Anglo-Irish politician and colonial administrator.... |
1835 | 1835 | ||
| The Marquess Conyngham Francis Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham General Francis Nathaniel Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham KP, GCH, PC , styled Lord Francis Conyngham between 1816 and 1824 and Earl of Mount Charles between 1824 and 1832, was a British soldier, courtier and politician.-Background and education:Born in Dublin, Conyngham was the second son of... |
1835 | 1839 | ||
| Earl of Uxbridge Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey PC , styled Lord Paget 1812 and 1815 and Earl of Uxbridge between 1815 and 1854, was a British peer and Whig politician... |
1839 | 1841 | Succeeded as The Marquess of Anglesey in 1854 | |
| The Earl De La Warr George Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr George John Sackville-West, 5th Earl de la Warr PC , styled Viscount Cantelupe until 1795, was a British courtier and Tory politician.-Background:... |
1841 | 1846 | First period in office | |
| The Earl Spencer Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer Vice-Admiral Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer KG, CB, PC , styled The Honourable Frederick Spencer until 1845, was a British naval commander, courtier and Whig politician. He initially served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War of Independence, eventually rising... |
1846 | 1848 | ||
| The Marquess of Breadalbane John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane KT, PC, FRS , styled Lord Glenorchy until 1831 and as Earl of Ormelie from 1831 to 1834, was a Scottish nobleman and Liberal politician.-Background and education:... |
1848 | 1852 | First period in office | |
| The Marquess of Exeter Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter KG, PC , styled Lord Burghley until 1804, was a British peer, courtier and Tory politician... |
1852 | 1852 | ||
| The Marquess of Breadalbane John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane KT, PC, FRS , styled Lord Glenorchy until 1831 and as Earl of Ormelie from 1831 to 1834, was a Scottish nobleman and Liberal politician.-Background and education:... |
1853 | 1858 | Second period in office | |
| The Earl De La Warr George Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr George John Sackville-West, 5th Earl de la Warr PC , styled Viscount Cantelupe until 1795, was a British courtier and Tory politician.-Background:... |
1858 | 1859 | Second period in office | |
| The Viscount Sydney John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney GCB, PC , known as The Viscount Sydney between 1831 and 1874, was a British Liberal politician... |
1859 | 1866 | First period in office | |
| The Earl of Bradford Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford Orlando George Charles Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford PC DL , styled Viscount Newport between 1825 and 1865, was a British courtier and Conservative politician... |
1866 | 1868 | ||
| The Viscount Sydney John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney John Robert Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney GCB, PC , known as The Viscount Sydney between 1831 and 1874, was a British Liberal politician... |
1868 | 1874 | Second period in office; created The Earl Sydney in 1874 | |
| The Marquess of Hertford Francis Seymour, 5th Marquess of Hertford Francis George Hugh Seymour, 5th Marquess of Hertford GCB PC , known as Francis Seymour until 1870, was a British courtier and Conservative politician... |
1874 | 1879 | ||
| The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe William Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe William Henry Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe GCVO, PC , styled Viscount Valletort between 1839 and 1861, was a British courtier and Conservative politician.-Background:... |
1879 | 1880 | ||
| The Earl of Kenmare Valentine Browne, 4th Earl of Kenmare Valentine Augustus Browne, 4th Earl of Kenmare KP, PC , styled Viscount Castlerosse from 1853 to 1871, was a British courtier and Liberal politician... |
1880 | 1885 | First period in office | |
| The Earl of Lathom Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom GCB, PC , known as The Lord Skelmersdale between 1853 and 1880, was a British Conservative politician. He was a member of every Conservative administration between 1866 and 1898, and notably served three times as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under... |
1885 | 1886 | First period in office | |
| The Earl of Kenmare Valentine Browne, 4th Earl of Kenmare Valentine Augustus Browne, 4th Earl of Kenmare KP, PC , styled Viscount Castlerosse from 1853 to 1871, was a British courtier and Liberal politician... |
1886 | 1886 | Second period in office | |
| The Earl of Lathom Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom GCB, PC , known as The Lord Skelmersdale between 1853 and 1880, was a British Conservative politician. He was a member of every Conservative administration between 1866 and 1898, and notably served three times as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under... |
1886 | 1892 | Second period in office | |
| The Lord Carrington Robert Wynn Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire KG, GCMG, PC, DL, JP , known as the Lord Carrington from 1868 to 1895 and as the Earl Carrington from 1895 to 1912, was a British Liberal politician and aristocrat.-Background and education:Born at Whitehall, London, Lincolnshire was the... |
1892 | 1895 | Created The Earl Carrington in 1895 and The Marquess of Lincolnshire in 1912 | |
| The Earl of Lathom Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom Edward Bootle-Wilbraham, 1st Earl of Lathom GCB, PC , known as The Lord Skelmersdale between 1853 and 1880, was a British Conservative politician. He was a member of every Conservative administration between 1866 and 1898, and notably served three times as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under... |
1895 | 1898 | Third period in office | |
| The Earl of Hopetoun John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow John Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC , also known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902, was a Scottish aristocrat, politician and colonial administrator. He is best known for his brief and controversial tenure as the... |
1898 | 1900 | Created The Marquess of Linlithgow in 1902 | |
| The Earl of Clarendon Edward Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon Edward Hyde Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon PC , styled Lord Hyde between 1846 and 1870, was a British Liberal Unionist politician... |
1900 | 1905 | ||
| The Viscount Althorp Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer Charles Robert Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer KG, GCVO, PC, VRD , styled The Honourable Charles Spencer until 1905 and known as The Viscount Althorp between 1905 and 1910, was a British courtier and Liberal politician. An MP from 1880 to 1895 and again from 1900 to 1905, he served as Vice-Chamberlain of... , from 1910 The Earl Spencer |
1905 | 1912 | ||
| The Lord Sandhurst William Mansfield, 1st Viscount Sandhurst William Mansfield, 1st Viscount Sandhurst GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC was a British Liberal politician and colonial governor... , from 1917 The Viscount Sandhurst |
1912 | 1921 | ||
| The Duke of Atholl John Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl Colonel John George Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl KT GCVO CB DSO PC ADC , styled Marquess of Tullibardine until 1917, was a Scottish soldier and Conservative politician.-Early life:... |
1921 | 1922 | ||
| The Earl of Cromer Rowland Baring, 2nd Earl of Cromer Rowland Thomas Baring, 2nd Earl of Cromer, GCB, GCIE, GCVO, PC, ADC was the son of Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer.During World War I he served as a subaltern in the Grenadier Guards... |
1922 | 1938 | ||
| The Earl of Clarendon George Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon George Herbert Hyde Villiers, 6th Earl of Clarendon KG, PC , known as Lord Hyde from 1877 to 1914, was a British Conservative politician... |
1938 | 1952 | ||
| The Earl of Scarbrough | 1952 | 1963 | ||
| The Lord Cobbold Cameron Cobbold, 1st Baron Cobbold Cameron Fromanteel Cobbold, 1st Baron Cobbold KG, GCVO, PC, DL was a British banker. He served as Governor of the Bank of England from 1949 to 1961 and as Lord Chamberlain from 1963 to 1971.-Early life and career:... |
29 January 1963 | 30 November 1971 | ||
| The Lord Maclean | 1 December 1971 | 30 November 1984 | ||
| The Earl of Airlie David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie David George Coke Patrick Ogilvy, 8th Earl of Airlie, KT, GCVO, PC, JP is the eldest son of David Ogilvy, 7th Earl of Airlie and Lady Alexandra Coke. His younger brother was Sir Angus Ogilvy, the husband of HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent.Born in London, Lord Airlie was educated at Eton, and... |
1 December 1984 | 31 December 1997 | ||
| The Lord Camoys | 1 January 1998 | 31 May 2000 | ||
| The Lord Luce Richard Luce, Baron Luce Richard Napier Luce, Baron Luce, was Lord Chamberlain to HM The Queen from 2000 to 2006, and was previously Governor of Gibraltar and a Conservative Member of Parliament and Government Minister.-Early career:... |
1 October 2000 | 15 October 2006 | ||
| The Earl Peel William Peel, 3rd Earl Peel William James Robert Peel, 3rd Earl Peel GCVO, PC, DL , styled Viscount Clanfield until 1969, is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords and Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household.-Background and education:... |
16 October 2006 | present |
Further reading
- J.R. Stephens: The Censorship of English Drama 1824-1901 (Cambridge University Press, 1981).
- John Johnston, The Lord Chamberlain's Blue Pencil (Hodder & Stoughton, 1990. ISBN 0340525290)
- Nicholas de Jongh, Politics, Prudery and Perversions: The Censoring of the English Stage 1901-1968 (Methuen, 2000. ISBN 0413706206. Winner of Society for Theatre Research Theatre Book Prize, 2000).
- Dominic Shellard, Steve Nicholson and Miriam Handley: The Lord Chamberlain Regrets ... A History of British Theatre Censorship (British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
: 2004) (ISBN 0-7123-4865-4).
External links
- Chamber Administration: Lord Chamberlain, 1660-1837
- The Lord Chamberlain and censorshipCensorshipthumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
at The Theatre Archive Project