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Lord-Lieutenants and the Lieutenancy

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The office of Lord-Lieutenant has a military origin, with responsibilities for maintaining order and local defence in England and Wales dating from the time of Henry VIII. Deputies were introduced by 1569 and permanent Lieutenancies were established across England, Wales and Scotland in 1794, with varying powers to raise militia provided by several pieces of legislation in the intervening years. Ireland adopted county Lieutenancies in 1831, with the Government of Ireland Act 1920 removing Irish Lieutenancies except those in Northern Ireland. The Lord-Lieutenant’s power to call on able-bodied men gradually diminished towards the end of the 20th century, fully ending in 1921.

Today, Lord-Lieutenants are His Majesty’s representative in the county and as such will act to protect the dignity and integrity of the office they hold. Aside from royal duties, Lord-Lieutenants generally promote and encourage voluntary and charitable organisations and take an interest in the business, urban and rural and social life of the county.

Lord-Lieutenants give their time to the office voluntarily and are supported in their role by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants. All must be strictly apolitical in the performance of their Lieutenancy duties.

Certain duties are expected of the Lord-Lieutenant which include:

  • arranging visits by Members of the Royal Family and escorting Royal visitors;
  • representing The King, including presenting certain honours, medals and awards;
  • encouraging and assessing honours nominations;
  • liaising with local units of the armed forces and their associated reserve and cadet forces; and
  • (in some counties in England and Wales) leading the local magistracy as Chairman of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace.

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    November 06, 2026 15:00
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