Household of Edward VII and Alexandra

The royal households of the United Kingdom consist of royal officials and the supporting staff of the British royal family, as well as the royal household which supports the sovereign. Each member of the royal family who undertakes public duties has their own separate household.

King Edward VII (1841–1910) was created Prince of Wales shortly after his birth, and his household was known as the household of the Prince of Wales from 1841. Upon his marriage in 1863, he and his wife shared the household of the Prince and Princess of Wales until their accession as King and Queen in January 1901, but several appointments were to either the Prince or the Princess, as they each had separate Lords Chamberlain and private Secretaries. When he became king, his household was known as the household of the Sovereign 1901–1910. Edward VII’s household expanded significantly after his accession, reflecting the greatly increased ceremonial and administrative duties of the monarchy during his reign.

Queen Alexandra (1844–1925) received a separate household upon her husband's accession, the household of the Queen. From 1910, it was known as the household of Queen Alexandra.

Household of the Prince of Wales 1841–1863

Treasurer and cofferer

• 1856: Colonel C. B. Phipps

Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal

• 1856: Thomas Leigh (later Baron Kingsdown)

Privy Seal

• 1856: Lord Alfred Hervey

Attorney-general

• 1856: W. J. Alexander

Tutor

• 1856: F. W. Gibbs

Household of the Prince and Princess of Wales 1863–1901

Keeper of the Privy Purse and Comptroller

• ?–1901: General Sir Dighton Probyn

Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales

• ?–1901: General Sir Dighton Probyn
• 1870-1901: Sir Francis Knollys

Lords of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales

• 1866–1883: James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn
• 1872–1901: Charles Harbord, 5th Baron Suffield

Grooms-in-Waiting to the Prince of Wales

• 1886-1901: Sir Francis Knollys

Equerries to the Prince of Wales

• 1876–1899: Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis
• 1899-1901: Sidney Greville

Extra Equerry to the Prince of Wales

• 1899–1901: Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis

Lords Chamberlain to the Princess of Wales

• 1863–1873: George Harris, 3rd Baron Harris
• 1873–1901: Charles Colville, 10th Lord Colville of Culross

Private secretaries to the Princess of Wales

• ?-1870: Herbert W. Fisher
• 1870–1889: Maurice Holzmann
• 1889–?: Stanley de A. C. Clarke

Ladies of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales

• 1863–1873: Fanny Osborne, Marchioness of Carmarthen (Duchess of Leeds from 1871)
• 1863–1866: Henrietta Robinson, Countess de Grey
• 1863–1901: Helen Douglas, Countess of Morton
• 1863–1901: Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield
• 1873–1901: Cecilia Harbord, Baroness Suffield
• 1895–1901: Edith Bulwer-Lytton, Countess of Lytton

Women of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales

• 1863–1865: Mrs Robert Bruce (extra 1865–?)
• 1863–1873: Mrs William George Grey (extra 1873–?)
• 1863–?: Mrs Edward Coke
• 1863–?: Mrs. Francis Stonor
• 1865–?: Mrs Arthur Hardinge
• 1872–1901: Lady Emily Kingscote
• 1873–1901: (Elizabeth) Charlotte Knollys
• 1893–1901: Winifred Hardinge

Physician in Ordinary to the Prince of Wales

• 1863-1898: Sir William Jenner, 1st Baronet
• 1899-1901: Sir James Reid, 1st Baronet

Household of King Edward VII 1901–1910

Master of the Horse

• 1901–1905: William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland
• 1905–1907: Osbert Molyneux, 6th Earl of Sefton
• 1907–1910: Bernard Forbes, 8th Earl of Granard

Lord Steward

• 1901–1905: Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke
• 1905–1907: Cecil Foljambe, 1st Earl of Liverpool
• 1907–1910: William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp

Lord Chamberlain

• 1901–1905: Edward Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon
• 1905–1910: Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp (later Earl Spencer)

Vice-Chamberlain

• 1901–1902: Sir Alexander Acland-Hood, 4th Baronet (later Baron St. Audries)
• 1902–1905: Frederick Glyn, 4th Baron Wolverton
• 1905–1907: Wentworth Beaumont (Baron Allendale from 1907, later Viscount Allendale)
• 1907–1910: Sir John Fuller, 1st Baronet

Treasurer

• 1901–1903: Victor Cavendish (later Duke of Devonshire)
• 1903–1905: James Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton (later Duke of Abercorn)
• 1905–1909: Sir Edward Strachey, 4th Baronet. (later Baron Strachie)
• 1909–1910: William Dudley Ward

Comptroller

• 1901–1905: Arthur Annesley, 11th Viscount Valentia
• 1905–1909: Alexander Murray, Master of Elibank (later Baron Murray of Elibank)
• 1909–1910: Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool

Lords-in-Waiting

• 1901–?: Charles Harbord, 5th Baron Suffield
• 1901–1903: Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe
• 1901–1905: Rudolph Feilding, 9th Earl of Denbigh
• 1901–1905: Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore
• 1901–1905: Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon, 4th Baron Kenyon
• 1901–1905: Victor Spencer, 3rd Baron Churchill (from 1902 Viscount Churchill)
• 1901–1905: John Lawrence, 2nd Baron Lawrence

Master of the Household

• 1901–1907: Horace Farquhar, 1st Baron Farquhar (later Earl Farquhar)
• 1907–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Arthur Frederick

Deputy Master of the Household

• 1901–1907: Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Arthur Frederick (app Master of the Household 1907)
• 1907–1910: Harry Lloyd-Verney

Keeper of the Privy Purse

• 1901–1910: General Sir Dighton Probyn

Private Secretary

• 1901–1910: Sir Francis Knollys (from 1902 Baron Knollys, later Viscount Knollys)

Comptroller of Accounts

• 1901–1907: Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis

Crown Equerry

• 1901–?: Sir Henry Ewart, 1st Baronet

Equerries

• 1901–?: Major-General Sir Stanley Calvert Clarke
• 1901–1902: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Carington
• 1901–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Arthur Davidson
• 1901–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Sir Henry Legge
• 1901–1910: Captain Sir Seymour Fortescue
• 1901–1910: Captain Sir George Holford
• 1901–?: Captain Sir Frederick Ponsonby (later Baron Sysonby)
• 1902–1910: Honourable John Hubert Ward

Extra Equerries

• 1901: Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Loyd-Lindsay, 1st Baron Wantage
• 1901–1902: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Robert Kingscote
• 1901–1904: Major-General Sir John Carstairs McNeill
• 1901–1910: General Sir Dighton Probyn
• 1901–?: Major-General John Cecil Russell
• 1901–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Fleetwood Edwards
• 1901–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Arthur Bigge (later Baron Stamfordham)
• 1901–1907: Major-General Sir Arthur Ellis
• 1901–?: Captain Alwyn Greville
• 1901–1910: Lord Marcus Beresford
• 1902–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Carington
• 1902–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Balfour Haig, Royal Engineers
• 1902–1910: Vice-Admiral Hedworth Meux
• 1902–1910: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Arthur Frederick

Honorary Equerries

• 1901–1904: General Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport
• 1901–?: General Augustus FitzRoy, 7th Duke of Grafton

Grooms-in-Waiting

• 1901–1907: Colonel Lord Edward Clinton
• 1901–?: Sidney Greville
• 1901–?: Henry Julian Stonor
• 1901–?: Vice-Admiral Sir John Reginald Thomas Fullerton
• 1901–?: Sir Alexander Condie Stephen
• 1901–?: General Sir Godfrey Clerk
• 1901–?: Captain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell

Extra Grooms-in-Waiting

• 1901–?: Alexander Grantham Yorke
• 1901–1910: Major-General Sir Thomas Dennehy
• 1901–?: Sir Maurice Holzmann
• 1901–1904: General Sir Michael Biddulph

Master of the Ceremonies

• 1901–1903: Colonel Sir William James Colville
• 1901–: Richard Charles Moreton
• 1903–1907: Sir Douglas Dawson
• 1907–1910: Sir Arthur Walsh

Assistant Master of the Ceremonies

• 1901–?: Robert Follett Synge

Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

• 1901–1904: General Sir Michael Biddulph
• 1904–1910: Admiral Sir Henry Stephenson

Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State

• 1901–1910: Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane

Gentleman Ushers

• 1901–1902: Aubrey FitzClarence (later Earl of Munster)
• 1901–1903: Major-General John Ramsay Slade
• 1901–1905: Charles James Innes-Ker
• 1901–1906: Montague Eliot (later Earl of St Germans)
• 1901–1908: Captain Walter Stopford
• 1901–1909: Major-General John Brabazon
• 1901–1910?: Colonel Cuthbert Larking
• 1901–1910: Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane
• 1901–1910: Major Arthur Hay
• 1901–1910: Captain Otway Cuffe
• 1901–1910: Henry Julian Stonor
• 1901–1910: Arthur Collins
• 1901–1910: Sir Lionel Cust
• 1901–1910: Sir Henry Erskine
• 1901–1910: Arnold Royle
• 1901–1910: Brook Taylor
• 1901–1910: Horace West
• 1902–1905: Arthur Walsh (replacing FitzClarence)
• 1903–1910: Percy Armytage (replacing Slade)
• 1905–1910: Sir John Ramsay Slade (replacing Innes-Ker)
• 1905–1907: Harry Lloyd-Verney (replacing Walsh)
• 1907–1910: Charles Windham (replacing Verney)
• June 1908–October 1908: Charles Graham (replacing Stopford)
• 1908–1910: Thomas Arthur Fitzhardinge Kingscote (replacing Graham)
• 1908–1910: Gerald Ellis (replacing Eliot)
• 1909–1910: Henry Fludyer (replacing Brabazon)

Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle

• 1901–1910: John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll

Deputy Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle

• 1901–1910: Reginald Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher

Keeper of the Jewel House, Tower of London

• 1901–1909: General Sir Hugh Henry Gough
• 1909–1910: Sir Robert Cunliffe Low

Secretary of the board of Green Cloth

• 1901–?: George Courroux

Gentleman of the Cellars

• 1901–1910: Thomas Kingscote

Surveyor of the King′s Pictures

• 1901–?: Sir Lionel Cust

Librarian at Windsor Castle

• 1901–?: Richard R. Holmes

Keeper of the King´s Armoury

• 1901–1910: Guy Francis Laking

Poet Laureate

• 1901–1910: Alfred Austin

Master of the King´s Music

• 1901–1910: Sir Walter Parratt

Marine Painter in Ordinary

• 1901–?: Edward de Martino

Manager of His Majesty´s Thoroughbred Stud

• 1901–1910: Lord Marcus Beresford

Medical Household

Coroner of the Household

• 1901–?: Arthur Walter Mills

Physicians in Ordinary

• 1901–1907: Sir William Broadbent, 1st Baronet
• 1901–1910: Sir James Reid, 1st Baronet
• 1901–1910: Sir Francis Laking, 1st Baronet

Physicians Extraordinary

• 1901–?: Sir Joseph Fayrer 1st Baronet
• 1901–?: Sir Richard Powell, 1st Baronet
• 1901–1904: Sir Edward Henry Sieveking
• 1901–1904: Sir Felix Semon
• 1901–1902: John Lowe

Serjeant Surgeons in Ordinary

• 1901–1902: Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister
• 1902–1910: Sir Frederick Treves, 1st Baronet

Honorary Serjeant Surgeons to His Majesty

• 1901: Sir William MacCormac, 1st Baronet
• 1901–?: Sir Thomas Smith, 1st Baronet, of Stratford Place

Honorary Surgeon to His Majesty

• 1902: Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets Sir Henry Norbury, Director-General of the Medical Department of the Navy
• 1902: Alfred Downing Fripp, Assistant Surgeon at Guy's Hospital

Honorary Physician to His Majesty in Ireland

• –1901: William Moore
• 1901–?: Sir Francis R. Cruise, University of Dublin, Fellow and Ex-President Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (replacing Moore)

Ecclesiastical Household

Lord High Almoner

• 1901–1906: Lord Alwyne Compton, Bishop of Ely
• 1906–1910: Armitage Robinson, Dean of Westminster

Dean of the Chapels Royal

• 1901–1910: Arthur Winnington-Ingram, Bishop of London

Sub-Almoner and Sub-Dean of the Chapels Royal

• 1901–?: Edgar Sheppard

Clerk of the Closet

• 1901–1903: Sir Randall Davidson, Bishop of Winchester
• 1903–1910: William Boyd Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon

Deputy Clerks of the Closet

• 1901–1903: Frederic Farrar, Dean of Canterbury
• 1901–?: Canon John Neale Dalton
• 1901–?: William Rowe Jolley

Chaplains-in-Ordinary

See full list Ecclesiastical Household

Honorary Chaplains

See full list Ecclesiastical Household

Household of Queen Alexandra 1901–1925

Lords Chamberlain to the Queen

• 1901–1903: Charles Colville, 10th Lord Colville of Culross(Viscount Colville of Culross from 1902)
• 1903–1925: Richard Curzon, 4th Earl Howe

Vice-Chamberlains

• 1901–1922: Archibald Acheson, 4th Earl of Gosford

Treasurers

• 1901–1923: Frederick Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon

Comptroller

• 1910–24: Sir Dighton Probyn

Lords-in-waiting

• 1910–?: Francis Knollys, 1st Baron Knollys

Equerries

• 1901–1910: John Brocklehurst (extra 1910–?)
• 1910–1922: Colonel Sir Arthur Davidson
• 1910–?: Sir George Holford
• 1910–?: John Hubert Ward
• 1910–?: Henry Streatfield
• 1923–?: Edward Seymour

Extra equerries

• 1910–?: Sir Charles Frederick

Private secretaries

• 1901–1911: Sidney Greville
• 1911–?: Henry Streatfield

Assistant Private Secretaries

Mistresses of the Robes

• 1901–1912: Louisa Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch
• 1913–1925: Winifred Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland

Ladies of the Bedchamber

• 1901–?: Cecilia Harbord, Baroness Suffield
• 1901–1905: Edith Bulwer-Lytton, Countess of Lytton
• 1901–?: Louisa McDonnell, Countess of Antrim
• 1901–1925: Louisa Acheson, Countess of Gosford
• 1905–1910: Maud Petty-FitzMaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne (extra 1910–?)
• 1907–1910: Cicely Gascoyne-Cecil, Marchioness of Salisbury (extra 1910–?)
• 1911–1925: Cecilia Wynn Carrington, Countess Carrington (Marchioness of Lincolnshire from 1912)

Extra Ladies of the Bedchamber

• 1901–?: Helen Douglas, Countess of Morton
• 1901–?: Mary Parker, Countess of Macclesfield
• 1910–?: Alice Stanley, Countess of Derby
• 1910–?: Winifred Hardinge, Baroness Hardinge of Penshurst

Women of the Bedchamber

• 1901–1907: Lady Emily Kingscote
• 1901–?: (Elizabeth) Charlotte Knollys
• 1901–1910: Winifred Hardinge (later Lady Hardinge)
• 1901–?: Lady (Victoria) Alice Stanley

Maids of Honour

• 1901–1905: Dorothy Vivian
• 1901–?: Violet Vivian
• 1901–1905: Mary Dyke
• 1901–?: Sylvia Edwardes
• 1905–?: Margaret Dawnay
• 1905–?: Blanche Lascelles
• 1919–?: Lucia White

Surgeon-Apothecary

• 1910–?: Sir Francis Laking

Surgeon

• 1907–?: Hugh Rigby
• 1910–?: Sir Frederick Treves

Physician Extraordinary

• 1910–?: Sir Alan Manby

Laryngologist

• 1910–?: Sir Milsom Rees

Bacteriologist

• 1912–?: Harold Spitta

Hon. Domestic Chaplain

• 1910–?: Edgar Sheppard
• 1911–?: Frederic Percival Farrar
• 1911–?: Ernest Edward Holmes
• 1911–?: Mortimer Egerton Kennedy
• 1912–?: Arthur Rowland Harry Grant

See also

• Royal Households of the United Kingdom
• Household of George V and Mary

References