Lord Steward of the Household

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The Lord Steward or Lord Steward of the Household is an office at the British royal court. He should not be confused with the Lord High Steward , the highest of the Great Officers of State in England.

The office had considerable political importance until 1782, and the holder was ranked on an equal footing with members of the cabinet. Until 1924, the bearer, who must have the peerage , was always a member of the government. He is appointed directly by the king and carries a white staff as a sign of his office. He is the highest dignitary of the royal court, before the "Treasurer of the Household" and the "Comptroller of the Household", and until 2003 he was the "Board of Green Cloth", the administrative body (and formerly also the court) of the royal household who, for example, prepared the trips.

The title was already mentioned in a ranking by Henry VIII from 1539. His practical duties at court (financial affairs and administration of the court) are now taken over by the “Master of the Household”. He used to bring messages from the king to parliament and swore members of parliament.

The title still exists, and the Lord Steward still appoints the Coroner of the Queen's Household today. The current incumbent is James Hubert Ramsay, 17th Earl of Dalhousie .

List of Lord Stewards since 1502

Remarks

  1. ^ RADCLIFFE of Sussex

literature