Personal aide-de-camp
Personal Aide-de-Camp to the King (or Queen) is an appointment in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. It is distinct from that of other aides-de-camp, in that it is only bestowed on members of the British royal family holding military rank. The appointment may be signified by the post-nominal letters 'ADC(P)'.[2] It is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities attached;[3] in the 20th century the Personal Aides-de-Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach at each Coronation, and walking or riding close behind the Gun Carriage at each State Funeral, of a monarch.[4]
History
The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun by Queen Victoria.[3]
Insignia
The emblem of the office is the royal cypher and crown (of the monarch who appointed the officer), which is worn on the uniform shoulder straps; and 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).[5]
Current ADCs
Those in the royal family who currently hold the appointment are:
| Rank | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch Years served |
|---|---|---|
| Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II | ||
| Field Marshal Air Chief Marshal |
Duke of Kent (1 August 1966–present)[6] |  British Army1955–1976 |
| Captain (retired) | Mark Phillips (1 February 1974–present) | British Army 1969–1978 |
| Honorary Air Commodore | Earl of Wessex (later Duke of Edinburgh) (1 August 2004–present) | |
| Vice Admiral | Sir Timothy Laurence (1 August 2004–present) |  Royal Navy1973–2011 |
| Squadron Leader Major Lieutenant Commander |
Duke of Cambridge (later Prince of Wales) (17 March 2013–present)[7] | British Army 2006–2009  Royal Air Force2008–2013 |
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.
Former ADCs
Those in the royal family who previously held the appointment are:
| Rank | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch Years served |
|---|---|---|
| Appointed by Queen Victoria | ||
| Field Marshal | Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (26 May 1876 – 16 January 1942) | British Army 1868–1942 |
| Admiral of the Fleet | Duke of Edinburgh (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) (9 December 1882 – 30 July 1900) | Royal Navy August 1858–30 July 1900[8] |
| Major Captain |
Prince Albert Victor of Wales (later Duke of Clarence and Avondale) (21 June 1887 – 14 January 1892)[9] | Royal Navy British Army 1877–1892 |
| Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet |
Prince George of Wales (later Duke of York and Prince of Wales) (21 June 1887 – 6 May 1910) | Royal Navy[10] |
| Field Marshal | Duke of Cambridge (1 November 1895 – 17 March 1904) | British Army 3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904[11] |
| Admiral of the Fleet | Prince Louis of Battenberg (later Marquess of Milford Haven) (1 January 1897 – 11 September 1921) | Royal Navy 1868–1914[12] |
| General | Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (14 March 1898 – 28 October 1917) | British Army July 1866–28 October 1917[13] |
| Appointed by King Edward VII | ||
| Major General | Prince Arthur of Connaught (30 June 1905 – 12 September 1938) | British Army 1901–1922[14] |
| Appointed by King George V | ||
| Lieutenant Colonel | Duke of Teck (later Marquess of Cambridge) (3 June 1910 – 24 October 1927)[15] | British Army 1888–1919 |
| Major General | Prince Alexander of Teck (later Earl of Athlone) (3 June 1910 – 16 January 1957) | British Army 1894–1931[16] |
| Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
Prince of Wales (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936) Duke of Windsor (11 December 1936 – 28 May 1972) |
Royal Navy British Army 1910–1919[17] |
| Admiral General Air Chief Marshal |
Prince Albert (later Duke of York) (3 June 1919 – 11 December 1936) | Royal Navy Royal Air Force 1913–1919[17] |
| Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
Duke of Gloucester (2 August 1929 – 10 June 1974) | British Army 1919–1937[18] |
| Appointed by King Edward VIII | ||
| Admiral of the Fleet | Lord Louis Mountbatten (later Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (23 June 1936 – 27 August 1979)[19] | Royal Navy 1916–1965 |
| Rear Admiral Major General Air Commodore |
Duke of Kent (23 June 1936 – 25 August 1942) | Royal Navy Royal Air Force 1916–1942[19] |
| Appointed by King George VI | ||
| Colonel | Earl of Harewood (1 February 1937 – 24 May 1947) | British Army 12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947[20] |
| Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force Captain General Royal Marines |
Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948 – 9 April 2021)[21] | Royal Navy 1939–1952 |
| Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II | ||
| Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
Prince of Wales (6 December 1973 – 8 September 2022)[22] | Royal Navy 1971–1977 Royal Air Force1971–1977 |
| Vice Admiral | Prince Andrew (later Duke of York) (1 February 1984 – 13 January 2022)[23][24] | Royal Navy 1978–2001 |
| Major |
Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018 – 19 February 2021)[25] | British Army 2005–2015 |
See also
References
- Matthews, Lyndsey (19 May 2018). "Why Does Prince William Have a Gold Braid on His Uniform?". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- Whitaker's Almanack. London: Whitaker. 2016. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- Allison, Ronald; Riddell, Sarah (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. London: Macmillan Press. p. 7. ISBN 0-333-53810-2.
- London Gazette, various issues.
- "Army Dress Regulations 2017, part 10" (PDF).
- "Page 9031 | Supplement 44082, 12 August 1966 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Duke of Cambridge becomes Aide-de-Camp to the Queen". The Telegraph. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- "Page 6321 | Issue 25176, 12 December 1882 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Page 223 | Issue 25773, 5 January 1888 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "No. 25773". The London Gazette. 5 January 1888. p. 102.
- "Page 5922 | Issue 26676, 1 November 1895 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "No. 26809". The London Gazette. 1 January 1897. p. 3.
- "Page 1688 | Issue 26947, 14 March 1898 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Page 4547 | Supplement 27811, 27 June 1905 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Page 3859 | Supplement 28380, 31 May 1910 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "No. 28380". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1910. p. 3859.
- "Page 1823 | Issue 13453, 5 June 1919 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "No. 33522". The London Gazette. 2 August 1929. p. 5061.
- "Page 4012 | Supplement 34296, 19 June 1936 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Page 3407 | Supplement 38316, 4 June 1948 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Page 14723 | Supplement 46148, 11 December 1973 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "Page 1735 | Supplement 49639, 6 February 1984 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- "A statement from Buckingham Palace regarding The Duke of York". The Royal Family. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- "Buckingham Palace statement on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex". British Royal Family (Press release). 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.