Personal aide-de-camp

Appointment in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom

The Prince of Wales wearing the insignia (aiguillette over his right shoulder and chest) of a personal aide-de-camp to the sovereign.[1]

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]

## History

[edit]

The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun in the 1870s by Queen Victoria.[3] In 1895 she wrote to her cousin The Duke of Cambridge (who was approaching the end of his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces) to inform him of her intention to appoint him as her first personal Aide-de-Camp, 'with the right of attending me on all military occasions and of holding the Parade on my birthday'.[4]

In 1937 and 1953, the Personal Aides-de-Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach in the Coronation procession.[5][6]

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.

## Insignia

[edit]

The Duke of Edinburgh (left) and the Prince of Wales (right) wear two royal cyphers on each shoulder strap, having served as Personal Aides-de-Camp to two Sovereigns (King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II).

The emblems of the office are the royal cypher and crown (of the monarch who appointed the officer), which is worn on the uniform shoulder straps; and (when wearing certain classes of uniform) 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.[7] In the 20th century, the royal cyphers worn by Personal Aides-de-Camp differed from those worn by other officers in that they consisted of block letters,[8] rather than being of the usual stylised format.

Personal Aides-de-Camp continue to wear the royal cypher on their shoulder straps even after relinquishing the appointment, and if the appointment was held under more than one sovereign then the cypher of each is worn.[9][10]

## List of Personal Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign by reign

[edit]

Ranks shown are as at the time of first appointment.

### Charles III

[edit]

Rank
(or appointment) | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch
Years served

|
|

Commander
Lieutenant Colonel
Wing Commander | HRH The Prince of Wales (2023–present)[11] |  Royal Navy
2008
British Army
2006–2009
Royal Air Force
2008–2013
(Royal Honorary Colonel)
(Honorary Air Commodore)  | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (2023–present)[11] |  Royal Marines
1986–1987
Admiral
General
Air Chief Marshal | HRH The Princess Royal (2023–present)[12][13] |

### Elizabeth II

[edit]

Rank
(or appointment) | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch
Years served

|
|

General | HRH The Duke of Gloucester (10 March 1953 – 10 June 1974)  |  British Army
1919–1937[14]
Hon. Major General | The Earl of Athlone (10 March 1953 – 16 January 1957)  |  British Army
1894–1931[15]
Admiral | The Earl Mountbatten of Burma (10 March 1953 – 27 August 1979)[16][17] |  Royal Navy
1916–1965
Captain | HRH The Duke of Kent (1 August 1966–8 September 2022)[18] |  British Army
1955–1976
Lieutenant | HRH The Prince of Wales (6 December 1973 – 8 September 2022)[19] |  Royal Navy
1971–1976
Royal Air Force
1971[20]
Captain | Mark Phillips (1 January 1974–1992)[21][22] |  British Army
1969–1978
Lieutenant | HRH The Prince Andrew (later The Duke of York) (1 February 1984 – 13 January 2022)[23][24] |  Royal Navy
1978–2001
(Royal Honorary Colonel)  | HRH The Earl of Wessex (1 August 2004–8 September 2022)[25] |  Royal Marines
1986-1987
Rear Admiral | Timothy Laurence (1 August 2004–8 September 2022)[25] |  Royal Navy
1973–2011
Lieutenant
Captain
Flight Lieutenant | HRH The Duke of Cambridge (17 March 2013–8 September 2022)[26] |  Royal Navy
2008
British Army
2006–2009
Royal Air Force
2008–2013
Lieutenant Commander
Major
Squadron Leader | HRH The Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018 – 19 February 2021)[27] |  British Army
2005–2015

### George VI

[edit]

Rank
(or appointment) | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch
Years served

|
|

Captain
(Colonel-in-Chief)  | HRH The Duke of Kent (1 February 1937 – 25 August 1942)
(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)[28] |  Royal Navy
1916–1929
Commander | Lord Louis Mountbatten (later The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and The Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)[16]
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy
1916–1965[29]
Major-General
Air Vice-Marshal | HRH The Duke of Gloucester (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)  |  British Army
1919–1937[30]
Field Marshal | HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 February 1937 – 16 January 1942)  |  British Army[31]
Hon. Major General | HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught (1 February 1937 – 12 September 1938)  |  British Army
1901–1922[32]
Hon. Major General | The Earl of Athlone (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)  |  British Army
1894–1931[33]
(Honorary Colonel)  | The Earl of Harewood (1 February 1937 – 24 May 1947)  |  British Army
12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947[34]
Lieutenant | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948 – 6 February 1952)[35] |  Royal Navy
1939–1952

### Edward VIII

[edit]

Rank
(or appointment) | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch
Years served

|
|

Field Marshal | HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 May 1936 – 11 December 1936)  |  British Army
1868–1942[36]
Admiral
General
Air Chief Marshal | HRH The Duke of York (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)[37] |  Royal Navy
1913–1918
Royal Air Force
1918–1919
Commander
(Colonel-in-Chief)  | HRH The Duke of Kent (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)
(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)[37] |  Royal Navy
1916–1929
Commander | Lord Louis Mountbatten (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)[37]
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy
1916–1965
Major | HRH The Duke of Gloucester (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)  |  British Army
1919–1937[38]
Hon. Major General | HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)  |  British Army
1901–1922[39]
Hon. Major General | The Earl of Athlone (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)  |  British Army
1894–1931[40]
(Honorary Colonel)  | The Earl of Harewood (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)  |  British Army
12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947[41]

### George V

[edit]

Rank
(or appointment) | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch
Years served

|
|

Vice-Admiral | HSH Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (3 June 1910 – 11 September 1921)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy
1868–1914[42]
Field Marshal | HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)  |  British Army
1868–1942[43]
Captain | HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)  |  British Army
1901–1922[44]
General | HRH Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (3 June 1910 – 28 October 1917)  |  British Army
July 1866–28 October 1917[45]
Major | HSH The Duke of Teck (later The Marquess of Cambridge) (3 June 1910 – 24 October 1927)[46] |  British Army
1888–1919
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel | The Earl of Athlone (1 January 1919 – 20 January 1936)  |  British Army
1894–1931[47]
Colonel | HRH The Prince of Wales (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936)  |  Royal Navy
1910
British Army
1914–1919[48]
Captain (RAF) | HRH The Prince Albert (later The Duke of York) (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936)[48] |  Royal Navy
1913–1918
Royal Air Force
1918–1919
Captain | HRH The Duke of Gloucester (2 August 1929 – 20 January 1936)  |  British Army
1919–1937[49]
Lieutenant | HRH The Prince George (later The Duke of Kent) (19 July 1932 – 20 January 1936)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)[50] |  Royal Navy
1916–1929

### Edward VII

[edit]

Rank
(or appointment) | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch
Years served

|
|

Rear-Admiral | HRH The Duke of Cornwall and York (later The Prince of Wales) (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy[51]
Captain | HSH Prince Louis of Battenberg (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910)
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy
1868–1914[52]
Field Marshal | HRH The Duke of Cambridge (1901 – 17 March 1904)
(Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp)  |  British Army
3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904[53]
General | HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1901 – 6 May 1910)  |  British Army
1868–1942[54]
General | HRH Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1901 – 6 May 1910)  |  British Army
July 1866–28 October 1917[55]
Lieutenant | HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught (30 June 1905 – 6 May 1910)  |  British Army
1901–1922[56]

### Victoria

[edit]

Rank
(or appointment) | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch
Years served

|
|

Field Marshal | HRH The Prince of Wales (1876 – 22 January 1901)[57] |  British Army

Field Marshal | HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (26 May 1876 – 22 January 1901)  |  British Army
1868–1942
Admiral of the Fleet | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (later The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) (26 May 1876 – 30 July 1900)[58]
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy
August 1858–30 July 1900
Field Marshal | HRH The Duke of Cambridge (November 1882 – 22 January 1901)[59]
(was appointed Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp on 1 November 1895)[60] |  British Army
3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904
Captain | HRH Prince Albert Victor of Wales (later The Duke of Clarence and Avondale) (21 June 1887 – 14 January 1892)[61] |  Royal Navy
British Army
1877–1892
Lieutenant | HRH Prince George of Wales (later The Duke of York) (21 June 1887 – 22 January 1901)[62]
(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy
Captain | HSH Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (1 January 1897 – 22 January 1901)
(Honorary Naval Aide-de-Camp)  |  Royal Navy
1868–1914[63]
General | HRH Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (22 June 1897 – 22 January 1901)[64] |  British Army
July 1866–28 October 1917

## See also

[edit]

* Equerry
* Aide-de-camp

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Matthews, Lyndsey (19 May 2018). "Why Does Prince William Have a Gold Braid on His Uniform?". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
2. ^ Whitaker's Almanack. London: Whitaker. 2016. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
3. ^ a b Allison, Ronald; Riddell, Sarah (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. London: Macmillan Press. p. 7\. ISBN 0-333-53810-2.
4. ^ Buckle, George Earle, ed. (2014). The Letters of Queen Victoria (Volume 8: 1891-1895). Cambridge University Press. pp. 532–533.
5. ^ Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 34453, Page 7036, 10 November 1937
6. ^ Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 40020, Page 6230, 17 November 1953
7. ^ "Army Dress Regulations 2017, part 10" (PDF). 8 March 2017.
8. ^ The Navy List. London: H. M. Stationery Office. 1937. p. 126.
9. ^ Naval Dress Regulations, 2018.
10. ^ Uniform, dress and appearance regulations for the RAF, 2004.
11. ^ a b "Prince William and Prince Edward flaunt new roles given by King Charles". Geo News. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
12. ^ "Princess Anne to get starring role in King's coronation as thanks for loyalty". 27 April 2023.
13. ^ "The Royal Victorian Order - The Royal Victorian Order". www.centralchancery.org.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
14. ^ "No. 39794". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 March 1953. p. 1363.
15. ^ "No. 39794". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 March 1953. p. 1363.
16. ^ a b "Naval Officer's Service Record: Louis Mountbatten". National Archives. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
17. ^ "Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl of Burma: 1953: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II". Hamish Productions. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
18. ^ "Page 9031 | Supplement 44082, 12 August 1966". The London Gazette.
19. ^ "Page 14723 | Supplement 46148, 11 December 1973". The London Gazette.
20. ^ "Military Career of the Prince of Wales". Prince of Wales. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
21. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46174/supplement/267
22. ^ Compare Whitaker's Almanack 1992 and Whitaker's Almanack 1993
23. ^ "Page 1735 | Supplement 49639, 6 February 1984". The London Gazette.
24. ^ "A statement from Buckingham Palace regarding The Duke of York". The Royal Family. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
25. ^ a b Court Circular, 30 July 2004
26. ^ "Duke of Cambridge becomes Aide-de-Camp to the Queen". The Telegraph. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
27. ^ "Buckingham Palace statement on The Duke and Duchess of Sussex". British Royal Family (Press release). 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
28. ^ "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
29. ^ "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
30. ^ "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
31. ^ "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
32. ^ "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
33. ^ "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
34. ^ "Page 98 | Issue 15359, 5 February 1937 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
35. ^ "Page 3407 | Supplement 38316, 4 June 1948". The London Gazette.
36. ^ "No. 34280". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1936. p. 2801.
37. ^ a b c "Page 4012 | Supplement 34296, 19 June 1936". The London Gazette.
38. ^ "No. 34297". The London Gazette. 23 June 1936. p. 4016.
39. ^ "No. 34297". The London Gazette. 23 June 1936. p. 4017.
40. ^ "No. 34297". The London Gazette. 23 June 1936. p. 4017.
41. ^ "No. 34297". The London Gazette. 23 June 1936. p. 4017.
42. ^ "No. 28380". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1910. p. 3859.
43. ^ "No. 28380". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1910. p. 3859.
44. ^ "No. 28380". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1910. p. 3859.
45. ^ "No. 28380". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1910. p. 3859.
46. ^ "No. 28380". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1910. p. 3859.
47. ^ Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 31245, Page 3839, 21 March 1919
48. ^ a b "Page 1823 | Issue 13453, 5 June 1919 | Edinburgh Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
49. ^ "No. 33522". The London Gazette. 2 August 1929. p. 5061.
50. ^ "No. 33847". The London Gazette. 19 July 1932. p. 4702.
51. ^ "No. 27289". The London Gazette. 26 February 1901. p. 1417.
52. ^ "No. 27289". The London Gazette. 26 February 1901. p. 1417.
53. ^ "No. 27672". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 May 1904. p. 2837.
54. ^ "No. 27351". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 September 1901. p. 5810.
55. ^ "No. 28258". The London Gazette. 8 June 1909. p. 4389.
56. ^ "Page 4547 | Supplement 27811, 27 June 1905". The London Gazette.
57. ^ Mair, Robert H., ed. (1879). Debrett's Peerage. London: Dean & Son. p. 4.
58. ^ "Page 3186; Issue 24330, 26 May 1876". The London Gazette.
59. ^ Spiers, Edward M. (1992). The late Victorian army 1868-1902. Manchester University Press. p. 31.
60. ^ "Page 5922 | Issue 26676, 1 November 1895". The London Gazette.
61. ^ "Page 223 | Issue 25773, 5 January 1888". The London Gazette.
62. ^ "Page 221 | Issue 25773, 5 January 1888". The London Gazette.
63. ^ "No. 26809". The London Gazette. 1 January 1897. p. 3.
64. ^ "Page 3570, Issue 26867, 25 June 1897". The London Gazette.

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