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:
“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Deuteronomy 10:17,18.
“I had one life. And what did I do? Wasted it in some palooka preliminaries in Spain, just before Hitler and Chamberlain warm up for the main event.”
—Billy Wilder (b. 1906)