Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps

His Majesty's Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He is the King's link with the diplomatic community in London, arranges the annual diplomatic corps reception by the Sovereign, organises the regular presentation of credentials ceremonies for ambassadors and high commissioners, as well as supervises attendance of diplomats at state events. Marshals generally hold office for ten-year terms and were formerly retired senior military officers, though the last three marshals have been diplomats. The marshal is assisted by the Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, the First Assistant Marshal, in addition to other assistant marshals.^[1]

The office was created as recently as 1920 to replace the former Master of the Ceremonies, an office dating from c.1620. Before 1920, the Vice-Marshal was known as the Marshal of the Ceremonies.^[2] The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps wears a distinctive two-sided 17th-century badge of office, hung from gold chains (which was previously worn by the Master of Ceremonies):^[3] in times of peace the picture seen is an olive branch, together with the motto Beati Pacifici (the personal motto of James I); in times of war the medal is reversed, to show the image of a brandished sword and the motto Dieu et mon droit.^[4]

The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps is, along with the King's Equerry, expected to walk backwards discreetly when leaving the presence of the monarch. They are the only two visitors who are expected to do this today, as the ancient tradition that all who had the honour of a meeting with the monarch were expected to walk discreetly backwards when leaving the Sovereign's presence has been dropped for health and safety reasons. These two senior members of the Royal Household are expected to walk backwards leaving the room when they have either been summoned to see the King personally or they are introducing others – such as senior foreign diplomats – for audiences with the King.^[5]

List of Marshals of the Diplomatic Corps

1920–1934: Major-General Sir John Hanbury-Williams
1934–1945: Lieutenant-General Sir Sidney Clive
1945–1950: Sir John Monck
1950–1961: Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones
1962–1971: Rear-Admiral The Rt Hon The Earl Cairns
1972–1981: Major-General Lord Michael Fitzalan-Howard
1982–1991: Lieutenant-General Sir John Richards , Royal Marines
1992–2001: Vice-Admiral Sir James Weatherall
2001–2008: Sir Anthony Figgis
2008–2014: Charles Gray
2014–present: Alistair Harrison

List of Vice-Marshals of the Diplomatic Corps

1936–1945: Sir John Monck
1946–1957: Sir Marcus Cheke
1957–1965: Captain Dugald Malcolm
1965–1972: Sir Lees Mayall
1972–1975: Sir John Curle
1975–1982: Sir Roger Du Boulay
1982–1986: Sir Eustace Gibbs
1986–1991: Sir Roger Hervey
1991–1996: Sir Anthony Figgis
1996–1999: Philip Astley
1999–2001: Kathryn Colvin
2001–2006: Charles de Chassiron
2006–2009: Sarah Gillett
2009–2012: Simon Martin
2012–2014: Anna Clunes
2015: Catherine Nettleton
2015–2017: Julian Evans^[6]
2017–2020: Neil Holland^[7]
2020–present: Victoria Busby

References

^ "The Lord Chamberlain's Office". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.
^ Obituary of Sir Hubert Montgomery, The Times, 5 December 1942
^ Chamberlayne, John (1710). Magnae Britanniae Notitia: Or, The Present State Of Great-Britain (Volume 2). London: Timothy Goodwin et al. p. 115.
^ Risk, James; Pownall, Henry; Stanley, David; Tamplin, John (2001). Royal Service (Volume II). Lingfield, Surrey: Third Millennium. pp. 101–102.
^ Andrew Alderson (9 August 2009). "Royal tradition takes a backward step as the Queen bows to 'health and safety' concerns". The Telegraph.
^ "Julian Evans".
^ https://www.gov/uk/government/people/neil-holland ^{[dead link]}

[1] "The Lord Chamberlain's Office". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.

[2] Obituary of Sir Hubert Montgomery, The Times, 5 December 1942

[3] Chamberlayne, John (1710). Magnae Britanniae Notitia: Or, The Present State Of Great-Britain (Volume 2). London: Timothy Goodwin et al. p. 115.

[Risk2001-4] Risk, James; Pownall, Henry; Stanley, David; Tamplin, John (2001). Royal Service (Volume II). Lingfield, Surrey: Third Millennium. pp. 101–102.

[5] Andrew Alderson (9 August 2009). "Royal tradition takes a backward step as the Queen bows to 'health and safety' concerns". The Telegraph.

[6] "Julian Evans".

[7] ttps://www.gov/uk/government/people/neil-holland ^{[dead link]}

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