Lord Great Chamberlain

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The Lord Great Chamberlain of the United Kingdom is the sixth of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable. The Lord Great Chamberlain has charge over the Palace of Westminster, and especially of the House of Lords, and technically bears the Sword of State at state openings and closings of Parliament, though this duty is usually delegated to a Lord of Parliament who is also a Field Marshal. 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, and also being involved in investing the monarch with the insignia of rule.

The position is a hereditary one, held in gross. At any one time, a single person actually exercises the office of Lord Great Chamberlain. The various individuals who hold fractions of the Lord Great Chamberlainship are technically each Joint Hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain, and the right to exercise the office for a given reign rotates proportionately 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. (A Deputy Lord Great Chamberlain is a person exercising the office who is not personally a co-heir to the office; historically these have been sons or husbands of co-heirs as the office has never been exercised by a female, females having been forbidden to sit in the Lords until the present reign).

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 fact, 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, so that they may continue to carry out their ceremonial functions.

1 History of the office
2 Lords Great Chamberlain, 1485-present
3 Persons exercising the office of Lord Great Chamberlain, 1780-present
4 Current rotation

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, King 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, the fourteenth Earl of Oxford died, leaving his aunts as his female heirs. The earldom was inherited by a more distant heir-male, his second cousin. The Sovereign then declared that the office belonged to the Crown, and was not transmitted along with the earldom. The Sovereign appointed the fifteenth and sixteenth Earls to the office, but the appointments were deemed for life and were uninheritable. Then, Queen 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 the eighteenth Earl died, again leaving a distant relative as a male heir, but a closer one as a female heir. The House of Lords eventually ruled that the office belonged to the male heir, 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 the Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. In 1779, however, the fourth Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven died, leaving two sisters as female heirs, and an uncle as a male heir.

The uncle became fifth Duke, but the House of Lords ruled that the two sisters were jointly Lord Great Chamberlain, and could appoint a deputy to fulfil its functions. The barony of Willoughby de Eresby went into abeyance between the two sisters, but the Sovereign terminated the abeyance and granted the title to the elder sister Priscilla. The younger sister later married the first Marquess of Cholmondeley. 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.

Lords Great Chamberlain, 1485-present

See Earl of Oxford for earlier Earls of Oxford who have served as Lord Great Chamberlain.

Years Holder of the Lord Great Chamberlainship Share 1485-1513 John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford1 1513-1526 John de Vere, 14th Earl of Oxford 1 1526-1540 John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford1 1540-1562 John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford1 1562-1604 Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford1 1604-1625 Henry de Vere, 18th Earl of Oxford 1 1626-1642 Robert Bertie, 1st Earl of Lindsey1 1642-1666 Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey1 1666-1701 Robert Bertie, 3rd Earl of Lindsey1 1701-1723 Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven1 1723-1742 Peregrine Bertie, 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven1 1742-1778 Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven1 1778-1779 Robert Bertie, 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven1 1780-1828 Priscilla Bertie, 21st Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/2 Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1/2 1828-1838 Peter Drummond-Willoughby, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby1/2 Georgiana Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley 1/2 1838-1865 Peter Drummond-Willoughby, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1/2 George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley1/2 1865-1870 Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby1/2 George Cholmondeley, 2nd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1870 Albyric Drummond-Willoughby, 23rd Baron Willoughby de Eresby 1/2 William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley1/2 1870-1879 Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Charlotte Augusta Wynn-Carrington, Baroness Carrington 1/4 William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1879-1884 Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1/4 Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire1/4 William Cholmondeley, 3rd Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1884-1888 Clementina Drummond-Willoughby, 24th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1/4 Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1/4 George Henry Hugh Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1884-1910 Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1/4 George Henry Hugh Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1910-1923 Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1/4 George Henry Hugh Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1923-1928 Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire 1/4 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1928-1951 Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 2nd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Marjorie Cecilia Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1/20 Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1/20 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1/20 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1951-1953 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Marjorie Cecilia Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1/20 Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1/20 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1/20 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1953-1955 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Marjorie Cecilia Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1/20 Lady Alexandra Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1/20 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1/20 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1955-1963 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Marjorie Cecilia Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Ruperta Legge, Countess of Dartmouth 1/20 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1/20 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1963-1966 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Marjorie Cecilia Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset1/100 Lady Diana Matthews 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Lady Victoria Weld-Forester 1/20 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1966-1968 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Marjorie Cecilia Wilson, Baroness Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 Lady Diana Matthews 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Sir Edward Legge-Bourke1/20 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1968 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles John Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 Lady Diana Matthews 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Sir Edward Legge-Bourke1/20 George Horatio Charles Cholmondeley, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1968 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles John Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 Lady Diana Matthews 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Derek Keppel, Viscount Bury 1/20 Sir Edward Legge-Bourke1/20 George Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1968-1970 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles John Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 Lady Diana Matthews 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 Sir Edward Legge-Bourke1/20 George Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1970-1973 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles John Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 Sir Edward Legge-Bourke1/20 George Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1973-1974 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Charles John Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 George Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1974-1983 Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 3rd Earl of Ancaster 1/4 Ben Charles Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 George Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1983-1990 Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Ben Charles Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Anthony Llewellen Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 George Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1990 Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Ben Charles Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Julian Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 George Hugh Cholmondeley, 6th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1990-1995 Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Ben Charles Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Julian Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Josceline Chichester, Marchioness of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 David George Philip Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1995-1998 Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Ben Charles Wilson, 4th Baron Nunburnholme 1/20 Julian Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Arthur Patrick Chichester, Earl of Belfast/8th Marquess of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 David George Philip Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 1998-2000 Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Lorraine Mary Charmian Nicole Wilson 1/80 Tatiana Ines Alexandra Dent 1/80 Ines Monica Garton 1/80 Ysabel Wilson 1/80 Julian Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Lady Elizabeth Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Arthur Patrick Chichester, Earl of Belfast/8th Marquess of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 David George Philip Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 2000 Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Lorraine Mary Charmian Nicole Wilson 1/80 Tatiana Ines Alexandra Dent 1/80 Ines Monica Dent 1/80 Ysabel Wilson 1/80 Julian Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Peter Francis Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Arthur Patrick Chichester, Earl of Belfast/8th Marquess of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle 1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 David George Philip Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2 2000- Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby1/4 Lorraine Mary Charmian Nicole Wilson 1/80 Tatiana Ines Alexandra Dent 1/80 Ines Monica Garton 1/80 Ysabel Wilson 1/80 Julian Palmer 1/20 Lady Mary Findlay 1/100 Peter Francis Basset 1/100 James Hamilton-Russell 1/100 Lady Barbara Kwiatkowski 1/100 Arthur Patrick Chichester, Earl of Belfast/8th Marquess of Donegall 1/100 Rufus Arnold Alexis Keppel, 10th Earl of Albemarle1/20 William Legge-Bourke 1/20 David George Philip Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley 1/2

The list is presently incomplete.