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Personal aide-de-camp

Honorary role in the United Kingdom

Personal aide-de-camp

Honorary role in the United Kingdom

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Personal Aide-de-Camp to the King (or Queen) is an appointment in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. Unlike other aides-de-camp, it is held only by members of the British royal family with military rank. The appointment may be signified by the post-nominal letters 'ADC(P)'. It is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities attached.

History

The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun in the 1870s by Queen Victoria. In 1895 she wrote to her cousin Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (who was approaching the end of his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces) to inform him of her intention to appoint him as her first personal Aide-de-Camp, 'with the right of attending me on all military occasions and of holding the Parade on my birthday'.

In 1937 and 1953, the Personal Aides-de-Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach in the Coronation procession.

There are other categories of aides-de-camp to the Sovereign; most are serving military, naval, and air officers, usually of colonel or brigadier rank or equivalent. There are also specific posts for very senior officers, such as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp, Flag Aide-de-Camp, Aide-de-Camp General, and Air Aide-de-Camp.

Insignia

The Duke of Edinburgh (left) and Prince of Wales wear two royal cyphers on each shoulder, having been Personal Aides-de-Camp to two monarchs (Charles III and Elizabeth II).

The emblems of the office are the royal cypher and crown (of the monarch who appointed the officer), which is worn on the uniform shoulder straps; and (when wearing certain classes of uniform) No. 1 gold aiguillettes, which are worn on the right shoulder.

The aiguillettes of Personal Aides-de-Camp are distinguished from those of other Aides-de-Camp by the addition of the royal cypher and crown to each tag. In the 20th century, the royal cyphers worn by Personal Aides-de-Camp differed from those worn by other officers in that they consisted of block letters, rather than being of the usual stylised format.

Personal Aides-de-Camp continue to wear the royal cypher on their shoulder straps even after relinquishing the appointment, and if the appointment was held under more than one sovereign then the cypher of each is worn.

List of Personal Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign by reign

Ranks shown are as at the time of first appointment.

Victoria

Rank
(or appointment)Name and date of appointmentMilitary branch
Years served
Field MarshalEdward, Prince of Wales (1876 – 22 January 1901)
Field MarshalPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (26 May 1876 – 22 January 1901)
1868–1942
Admiral of the FleetPrince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) (26 May 1876 – 30 July 1900)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
August 1858–30 July 1900
Field Marshallast1=Spiersfirst1=Edward M.title=The late Victorian army 1868-1902date=1992publisher=Manchester University Presspage=31}}
(was appointed Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp on 1 November 1895)
3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904
CaptainPrince Albert Victor of Wales (later Duke of Clarence and Avondale) (21 June 1887 – 14 January 1892)UK Royal Navy
1877–1892
LieutenantPrince George of Wales (later Duke of York) (21 June 1887 – 22 January 1901)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
CaptainPrince Louis of Battenberg (later Marquess of Milford Haven) (1 January 1897 – 22 January 1901)
(Honorary Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1868–1914
GeneralPrince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (22 June 1897 – 22 January 1901)
July 1866–28 October 1917

Edward VII

Rank
(or appointment)Name and date of appointmentMilitary branch
Years served
Rear-AdmiralPrince George, Duke of Cornwall and York (later Prince of Wales) (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
CaptainPrince Louis of Battenberg (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1868–1914
Field MarshalPrince George, Duke of Cambridge (1901 – 17 March 1904)
(Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp)
3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904
GeneralPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1901 – 6 May 1910)
1868–1942
GeneralPrince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1901 – 6 May 1910)
July 1866–28 October 1917
LieutenantPrince Arthur of Connaught (30 June 1905 – 6 May 1910)
1901–1922

George V

Rank
(or appointment)Name and date of appointmentMilitary branch
Years served
Vice-AdmiralPrince Louis of Battenberg (later Marquess of Milford Haven) (3 June 1910 – 11 September 1921)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1868–1914
Field MarshalPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)
1868–1942
CaptainPrince Arthur of Connaught (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)
1901–1922
GeneralPrince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (3 June 1910 – 28 October 1917)
July 1866–28 October 1917
MajorAdolphus, Duke of Teck (later Marquess of Cambridge) (3 June 1910 – 24 October 1927)
1888–1919
Brevet Lieutenant-ColonelAlexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (1 January 1919 – 20 January 1936)
1894–1931
ColonelEdward, Prince of Wales (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936)UK Royal Navy
1910
1914–1919
Captain (RAF)Prince Albert (later Duke of York) (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936)UK Royal Navy
1913–1918
1918–1919
CaptainPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (2 August 1929 – 20 January 1936)
1919–1937
LieutenantPrince George (later Duke of Kent) (19 July 1932 – 20 January 1936)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1916–1929

Edward VIII

Rank
(or appointment)Name and date of appointmentMilitary branch
Years served
Field MarshalPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 May 1936 – 11 December 1936)
1868–1942
AdmiralPrince Albert, Duke of York (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1913–1918
General
1918–1919
Air Chief Marshal
Commander
(Colonel-in-Chief)Prince George, Duke of Kent (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1916–1929
CommanderLord Louis Mountbatten (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1916–1965
MajorPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
1919–1937
Hon. Major GeneralPrince Arthur of Connaught (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
1901–1922
Hon. Major GeneralAlexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
1894–1931
(Honorary Colonel)Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947

George VI

Rank
(or appointment)Name and date of appointmentMilitary branch
Years served
Captain
(Colonel-in-Chief)Prince George, Duke of Kent (1 February 1937 – 25 August 1942)
(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1916–1929
CommanderLord Louis Mountbatten (later Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)UK Royal Navy
1916–1965
Major-General
Air Vice-MarshalPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)
1919–1937
Field MarshalPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 February 1937 – 16 January 1942)
Hon. Major GeneralPrince Arthur of Connaught (1 February 1937 – 12 September 1938)
1901–1922
Hon. Major GeneralAlexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)
1894–1931
(Honorary Colonel)Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (1 February 1937 – 24 May 1947)
12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947
LieutenantPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948 – 6 February 1952)UK Royal Navy
1939–1952

Elizabeth II

Rank
(or appointment)Name and date of appointmentMilitary branch
Years served
GeneralPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (10 March 1953 – 10 June 1974)
1919–1937
Hon. Major GeneralAlexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (10 March 1953 – 16 January 1957)
1894–1931
Admiralurl=https://www.lordmountbattenofburma.com/1953-coronation-of-queen-elizabeth-iiaccess-date = 14 June 2023title = Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl of Burma: 1953: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth IIpublisher=Hamish Productions}}UK Royal Navy
1916–1965
CaptainPrince Edward, Duke of Kent (1 August 1966 – 8 September 2022)
1955–1976
LieutenantCharles, Prince of Wales (6 December 1973 – 8 September 2022)UK Royal Navy
1971–1976
1971
CaptainMark Phillips (1 January 1974 – 1992)
1969–1978
LieutenantPrince Andrew (later Duke of York) (1 February 1984 – 13 January 2022)UK Royal Navy
1978–2001
(Royal Honorary Colonel)Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (1 August 2004 – 8 September 2022)Flag of the Royal Marines.png Royal Marines
1986-1987
Rear AdmiralTimothy Laurence (1 August 2004 – 8 September 2022)UK Royal Navy
1973–2011
LieutenantPrince William, Duke of Cambridge (17 March 2013 – 8 September 2022)UK Royal Navy
2008
Captain
2006–2009
Flight Lieutenant
2008–2013
Lieutenant Commander
MajorPrince Harry, Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018 – 19 February 2021)
2005–2015
Squadron Leader

Charles III

Rank
(or appointment)Name and date of appointmentMilitary branch
Years served
CommanderWilliam, Prince of Wales (2023–present)UK Royal Navy
2008
Lieutenant Colonel
2006–2009
Wing Commander
2008–2013
(Royal Honorary Colonel)Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (2023–present)Flag of the Royal Marines.png Royal Marines
1986–1987
(Honorary Air Commodore)
AdmiralAnne, Princess Royal (2023–present)
General
Air Chief Marshal

References

References

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  2. (2016). "Whitaker's Almanack". Whitaker.
  3. (1991). "The Royal Encyclopedia". Macmillan Press.
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  5. [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34453/supplement/7036 Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 34453, Page 7036, 10 November 1937]
  6. [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40020/supplement/6230 Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 40020, Page 6230, 17 November 1953]
  7. (8 March 2017). "Army Dress Regulations 2017, part 10.".
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  10. [https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/589964/response/1415570/attach/4/Annex%20A.pdf Uniform, dress and appearance regulations for the RAF, 2004.]
  11. (1879). "Debrett's Peerage". Dean & Son.
  12. "Page 3186; Issue 24330, 26 May 1876". The London Gazette.
  13. (1992). "The late Victorian army 1868-1902". Manchester University Press.
  14. "Page 5922 | Issue 26676, 1 November 1895". The London Gazette.
  15. "Page 223 | Issue 25773, 5 January 1888". The London Gazette.
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  17. {{London Gazette. (1 January 1897)
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  30. [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31245/supplement/3839 Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 31245, Page 3839, 21 March 1919]
  31. "Page 1823 | Issue 13453, 5 June 1919 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette".
  32. {{London Gazette. (2 August 1929)
  33. {{London Gazette. (19 July 1932)
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  57. Compare [https://archive.org/details/whitakersalmanac1992unse/page/140/mode/2up ''Whitaker's Almanack'' 1992] and [https://archive.org/details/whitakersalmanack0000unse_1993/page/122/mode/2up ''Whitaker's Almanack'' 1993]
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  62. (19 February 2021). "Buckingham Palace statement on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex".
  63. (13 June 2023). "Prince William and Prince Edward flaunt new roles given by King Charles".
  64. (27 April 2023). "Princess Anne to get starring role in King's coronation as thanks for loyalty".
  65. "The Royal Victorian Order - The Royal Victorian Order".
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