Contact the Lord Lieutenant
The office of Lord-Lieutenant was originally created by King Henry VIII when the holder was responsible to the Crown for the maintenance of law and order and command of the local militia and all other necessary defence. In 1871 the militia were removed from the Lord Lieutenant's direct control.
Breconshire, Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire each had their own Lieutenancy until these were amalgamated into one after the creation of the County of Powys in 1974.
Appointment and Duties
Her Majesty the Queen appoints a Lord Lieutenant, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to be her personal representative in each county. The Lord Lieutenant is therefore the senior constitutional figure in each county and, when acting in this official capacity, takes precedence over all others. (Where a lady holds the office, she is still known as "Lord Lieutenant".)
The principal duties, in practice, in Wales, are:
- Arranging visits by members of the Royal Family and escorting them as appropriate. All requests for such visits should be referred to the Lord Lieutenant in the first instance.
- Presentation of Awards and Medals on behalf of Her Majesty and, as appropriate, validation and submission of nominees for such Awards in liaison with the Welsh Office and the Welsh Assembly.
- Leadership of the local Magistracy as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace (and their appointment) in liaison with the Lord Chancellor's Department. Also the duties of "The Keeper of the Rolls" (Custos Rotulorum).
- Liaison with and support of, local regular and territorial units of the Armed Forces within the County. (The Lord Lieutenant also has the honorary rank of Major General or equivalent for the other Services within the County when carrying out such duties.)
- The encouragement of a wide range of civic and voluntary service activities within the County, and the validation and support of local projects funded by the National Lottery.
- The recommendation of names for invitations to such Royal events as Her Majesty's annual garden parties at Buckingham Palace or elsewhere, and on Royal visits.
- The Lord Lieutenant appoints a Vice Lord Lieutenant from among the Deputy Lieutenants. The precise number of deputies is determined by the size of the population and their suitability to assist the Lord Lieutenant in the above roles, for a maximum of 10 years.
The current Lord-Lieutenant: Clerk to the Lieutenancy (to whom inquiries may be addressed) Please contact the Clerk to the Lord Lieutenant if you require information on current Deputy LieutenantsContacts
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