The Queen appointed to the Order of New Zealand

On the 5th June 2023, Her Majesty The Queen was made an additional member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ). For her services to New Zealand.

New Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria

Mr Alexander Scott DL has been appointed by His Majesty the King to become Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria succeeding Mrs Claire Hensman CVO who will retire on 5th July 2023.

New Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire

Mrs Amanda Parker DL has been appointed by His Majesty the King to become Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire succeeding The Rt Hon. The Lord Shuttleworth KG KCVO KStJ who will retire on 2nd August 2023.

New Deputy Lieutenants of Cambridgeshire

Julie Spence OBE QPM, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire has commissioned the following people to become Deputy Lieutenants of Cambridgeshire.

Mrs Gillian Beasley OBE
The Very Reverend Mark Bonney
Mrs Jennifer SooMi Crompton
Lord Edward Grimthorpe
Mr James Hutt
Ms Hanadi Jabado
Dr Neil Modha
Mr Rizwan Rahemtulla
Mr Jonathan Spence

New Extra Equerries to the King

His Majesty the King has appointed the following people to be his Extra Equerries within the Royal Household.

Vice Admiral Sir Tom Blackburn KCVO CB CStJ
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Ford GCVO
Commodore Anthony Morrow CVO
Admiral Sir George Zambellas GCB DSC ADC DL
Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB CBE
Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE
Vice Admiral Sir Anthony Johnstone-Burt KCVO CB OBE DL
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Matheson of Matheson Bt LVO DL
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave
Sir Nicholas Bacon KCVO OBE DL
Commander Richard Aylard CVO
Major General Arthur Denaro CBE DL
Sir Stephen Lamport GCVO DL
Mr Ashe Windham CVO

New Lords in Waiting

His Majesty the King has appointed following people Lord in Waiting to His Majesty the King.

The Rt Hon. The Lord Luce KG GCVO PC DL
The Rt Hon. The Lord Janvrin GCB GCVO QSO PC
The Most Honourable The Marquess of Cholmondeley GCVO DL

A Lord in Waiting is someone who helps the Sovereign with various duties a notably one being meeting visiting foreign heads of state as they arrived into the UK.

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast

On the 19th March 2023, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE DStJ, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast appointed the following person to the position of Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.

Dr Robert Alan Logan DL

Prince Edward made Duke of Edinburgh on his Birthday

On the 10th March 2023, His Majesty The King granted the title, style and dignity of Duke of Edinburgh to His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex and Forfar KG GCVO to be held for life only. The 10th March 2023 also marked His Royal Highness's 59th birthday.

His Royal Highness's new title will not pass to his son James. Who will now be styled Earl of Wessex and use it as a courtesy title. James will inherit the Duke's other titles of Earl of Wessex, Earl of Forfar and Viscount Severn after the Duke passes away. The Duke's daughter Lady Louise's style will not change, she is also not in line to the Duke's other title's because only legitimate male-line descendants can inherit them. The Duke's wife will now be styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO GCStJ.

New Lord Steward of the Household

On the 22nd February 2023, His Majesty the King appointed The Rt Hon. The Earl of Rosslyn CVO QPM to the position of Lord Steward of the Household succeeding The Rt Hon. The Earl of Dalhousie DL who retired from the role.

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry

On the 7th March 2023, Mr Ian Crowe MBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry appointed the following person to the position of Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry.

Mr Alan John Lindsay Moore OBE TD DL

High Sheriffs of Northern Ireland for 2023/2024

The following people have been appointed High Sheriff for the Counties of Northern Ireland for 2023/2024.

Northern Ireland

For County Antrim

2023/2024: Mr Peter Thomas Watts Mackie DL

For County Armagh

2023/2024: Mr Gary Myles Dickson

For County Down

2023/2024: Professor William Michael Mawhinney MBE TD

For County Fermanagh

2023/2024: Ms Noelle Mary McAlinden

For County Londonderry

2023/2024: Mr Peter Arnold Wilson BEM

For County Tyrone

2023/2024: Mrs Helen Irene Anderson

For County Borough of Belfast

2023/2024: Councillor Samuel John Kyle

For County Borough of Londonderry

2023/2024: Mrs Angela Norma Mary Thompson MBE OStJ

New Year’s Honours 2023

The New Year’s honours list 2023 has been announced honouring more than a thousand people across the commonwealth realms. Including well known people such as:


Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)
Professor Sir Michael Marmot
Dame Mary Quant DBE

Knight Bachelor (Sir)
Mr Christopher Bryant MP
The Rt Hon. Dr Julian Lewis MP
Dr Brian May CBE
Mr Grayson Perry CBE

Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE)
Ms Denise Lewis OBE

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Mr Pat Jennings

Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Ms Anne Diamond
Mr Stephen Graham
Mr David Harewood
Ms YolanDa Brown
Mr David Sutherland
Ms Leah Williamson

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Ms Kim Little
Mr Frank Skinner
Ms Rachel Riley
Ms Janet Kay
Ms Beth Mead
Ms Lucy Bronze
Ms Ellen White
Ms Lizzie Deignan
Ms Gail Redmond
Mr Chris Kamara

Her Majesty The Queen (1926-2022)

On the 8th of September 2022, Her Majesty The Queen passed away peacefully in the afternoon at Balmoral Castle, aged ninety six.

His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort were at Balmoral Castle with Her Majesty The Queen when she passed away. The announcement was made public at 6.30pm BST. 

In his Statement following Her Majesty The Queen's passing His Majesty The King said

'The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. 

We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother.  I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.  

During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.' 

Following the announcement to the public, Clarence House announced that His Majesty The King intends to take the regnal name of Charles and will be His Majesty King Charles the Third. 

Accession Council will take place on 10th September 2022 at St James's Palace when His Majesty The King will formally be proclaimed.

An online book of condolence has been opened on the royal family website https://www.royal.uk/

I was heartbroken to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. My thoughts are with Her Majesty's family at this terrible time. We have lost a truly remarkable monarch who dedicated her whole life to her people. 

God Save The King

New Lord Lieutenant of Somerset

Mr Mohammed Saddiq DL has been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to become Lord Lieutenant of Somerset succeeding Mrs Annie Maw CVO who retires on the 29th October 2022.

New Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire

The Rt Hon the Lord Shuttleworth KG KCVO, Lord-Lieutenant of the Lancashire has commissioned the following person to become a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire.

Mrs Andrea Challis

New Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland

Major General Patrick Marriott CB CBE has been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to become Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland succeeding Dr Monica Main CVO who retired in August 2022.

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex

On the 8th July 2022, Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord-Lieutenant of Essex appointed the following person to the position of Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex.

Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Roy Alexander George Clare CBE DL

New Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire

On the 11th July 2022, Helen Nellis CVO CStJ, Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire commissioned the following person to become a Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire.

Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE FREng

New Vice Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire

On the 14th July 2022, Edmund Anderson CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire appointed the following person to the position of Vice Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

Mrs Helen Thomson DL

CVO for the Domestic Chaplain at Sandringham

On the 5th July 2022 Her Majesty the Queen appointed The Reverend Canon Jonathan Byam Valentine Riviere LVO Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his service as Domestic Chaplain at Sandringham.