The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State.
The Lord Chamberlain is always sworn of the Privy Council, is usually a peer and before 1782 the post was of Cabinet rank. Until 1924, the position was a political one. The Lord Chamberlain is the chief functionary of the court and is generally responsible for organizing all court functions. He is considered the "senior official" of the Royal Household.
The office dates from the Middle Ages, when the King’s Chamberlain often acted as the King's spokesman in Council and Parliament.
The current Lord Chamberlain is The Earl Peel, who has been in office since 16 October 2006.
Read more about Lord Chamberlain: Duties, List of Lords Chamberlain of The Household
Famous quotes containing the words lord and/or chamberlain:
“The Lord wrote it all down on the little slate
Of the baby tortoise.
Outward and visible indication of the plan within,
The complex, manifold involvedness of an individual creature”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“The day of small nations has long passed away. The day of Empires has come.”
—Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914)