State Council (United Kingdom)

In the United Kingdom who are privy councilors ( English Counselors of State ), a group of senior members of the British royal family . The British monarch , currently Queen Elizabeth II , can delegate certain official duties and sovereign rights to the councils of state when he is abroad or is otherwise prevented (such as a short-term illness). Any two councilors of state can attend Privy Council meetings , sign government documents or receive letters of recommendation from new ambassadors .

The position of Council of State was created with the Regency Act of 1937. The monarch's spouse and the first four people in line to the throne are automatically councilors of state if they meet the conditions. These are the same as for the monarch; they must be at least 21 years of age (18 in the case of the heir to the throne) and be British nationals residing in the United Kingdom. An exception was made only for Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon , the Queen Mother. According to the Regency Act of 1953, she was allowed to become State Councilor again, although she was neither in the line of succession nor the wife of the current monarch.

The current Councilors of State are Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , Charles, Prince of Wales , William, Duke of Cambridge , Harry, Duke of Sussex and Andrew, Duke of York .

List of Councils of State

This list enumerates in chronological order all individuals who have served or are still serving as State Councilors.

• Queen Mother Elisabeth (1937–1952, 1953–2002)
• Henry, 1st Duke of Gloucester (1937–1974)
• George, 1st Duke of Kent (1937–1942)
• Mary, Countess of Harewood (1937-1962)
• Alexandra Duff, 2nd Duchess of Fife (1937–1944)
• Maud Duff, Countess of Southesk (1942–1944)
• George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood (1944-1951, 1952-1956)
• Princess Elisabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) (1944–1952)
• Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1951–1985)
• Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (since 1952)
• Edward, 2nd Duke of Kent (1956-1965)
• William of Gloucester (1962-1971)
• Richard, 2nd Duke of Gloucester (1965-1966, 1974-1981)
• Charles, Prince of Wales (since 1966)
• Anne, Princess Royal (1971-2003)
• Andrew, Duke of York (since 1981)
• Edward, Earl of Wessex (1985-2005)
• William, Duke of Cambridge (since 2003)
• Harry, Duke of Sussex (since 2005)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Counselors of State . Retrieved July 27, 2020: “Counselors of State are appointed from among the following: The Duke of Edinburgh and the four adults next in succession (provided they have reached the age of 21). The current Counselors of State are These are currently The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry and The Duke of York. "