Court Uniform and Dress in The United Kingdom - Court Uniform - Foreign Service Variants

Foreign Service Variants

See also: Diplomatic uniform of the United Kingdom

Members of the Diplomatic Service wore Court Uniform: ambassadors' coats wore 1st class civil uniform, but with additional embroidery on the sleeves and back seams. High commissioners for Dominions in London wore 1st class uniform. The High Commissioner for Southern Rhodesia, and Agent-Generals for Australian states wore 2nd class uniform. The King's or Queen's Foreign Service Messengers were entitled to 5th class court uniform (upgraded to 4th class in 1929) and also wore a distinctive greyhound badge.

Members of the Consular Service wore a slightly different form of the uniform, with silver embroidery rather than gold predominating. The coatee (for both full-dress and levée dress) was in blue cloth, with a Prussian collar, single-breasted buttoning with nine frosted gilt buttons of royal arms, two more buttons on back waist, two more on coat tails. Consuls-general and consuls had embroidered gold and silver lace on collar, cuffs, pocket flaps, and back. Consuls-general had 2+1⁄₂ inches (6.4 cm), consuls 2 inches (5.1 cm). Vice-consuls 1+1⁄₂ inches (3.8 cm) on cuffs, and front half of collar only. All wore white breeches and stockings, patent leather court shoes with gilt buckles for full dress, or trousers with silver lace stripes and patent leather military boots for levée dress. Consuls' stripes were 2+1⁄₄ inches (5.7 cm), others' were 1+3⁄₄ inches (4.4 cm). These were worn with black beaver cocked hats, black cockade, silver bullion loops, and gold tassels. For consuls-general there were treble loops and a border of black ostrich feathers, for consuls and vice-consuls double or single loops respectively, with no feathers. A blue greatcoat or cloak, blue detachable cape was for outdoors use. The sword accessories were the same as for standard court uniform.

Members of the Colonial Service wore Court Uniform (or military uniform, if so entitled); but Governors, and Governors General have distinctive uniform of their own: a plain blue coat, scarlet collar and cuffs (embroidered in silver), silver epaulettes and trimmings and a plumed hat (with Governors General wearing aiguilettes in addition). This uniform (in slightly simplified form) continues to be worn by Governors of British Overseas Territories. Lieutenant-Governors and other officials of various ranks wear regular Court Uniform, as detailed above.

Indian members of the Indian Civil Service were entitled to civil uniform, with a turban or pagre replacing the cocked hat, or the national dress which they were accustomed to wear on ceremonial occasions. They could also wear a blue coat buttoning from the neck to below the waist, worn with white trousers or pyjamas and the native head-dress.

For all the above, a simplified white uniform was provided for use in tropical postings.

Diplomatic, consular and gubernatorial uniforms

Ambassador's uniform (showing additional embroidery on the sleeves). Consular uniform, worn by George Pritchard, British Consul in Samoa. Governor's uniform (full dress) worn by Sir John Goodwin, Governor of Queensland. Governor's uniform (tropical dress) worn by Sir Arthur Porritt, Governor General of New Zealand.