Personal aide-de-camp

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

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)'. It is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities attached; in the 20th century the Personal Aides-de-Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach at each Coronation, and walking or riding close behind the Gun Carriage at each State Funeral, of a monarch.

History

The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun by Queen Victoria.

Insignia

The emblem of the office is the royal cypher and crown (of the monarch who appointed the officer), which is worn on the uniform shoulder straps; and 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).

Current ADCs

Those in the royal family who currently hold the appointment are:

Rank Name and Date of Appointment Military branch
Years served
Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II
Field Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Duke of Kent (1 August 1966–present)  British Army
1955–1976
Captain (retired) Mark Phillips (1 February 1974–present)  British Army
1969–1978
Honorary Air Commodore Earl of Wessex (later Duke of Edinburgh) (1 August 2004–present)
Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence (1 August 2004–present)  Royal Navy
1973–2011
Squadron Leader
Major
Lieutenant Commander
Duke of Cambridge (later Prince of Wales) (17 March 2013–present)  British Army
2006–2009
 Royal Air Force
2008–2013

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.

Former ADCs

Those in the royal family who previously held the appointment are:

Rank Name and Date of Appointment Military branch
Years served
Appointed by Queen Victoria
Field Marshal Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (26 May 1876 – 16 January 1942)  British Army
1868–1942
Admiral of the Fleet Duke of Edinburgh (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) (9 December 1882 – 30 July 1900)  Royal Navy
August 1858–30 July 1900
Major
Captain
Prince Albert Victor of Wales (later Duke of Clarence and Avondale) (21 June 1887 – 14 January 1892)  Royal Navy
 British Army
1877–1892
Field Marshal
Admiral of the Fleet
Prince George of Wales (later Duke of York and Prince of Wales) (21 June 1887 – 6 May 1910)  Royal Navy
Field Marshal Duke of Cambridge (1 November 1895 – 17 March 1904)  British Army
3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904
Admiral of the Fleet Prince Louis of Battenberg (later Marquess of Milford Haven) (1 January 1897 – 11 September 1921)  Royal Navy
1868–1914
General Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (14 March 1898 – 28 October 1917)  British Army
July 1866–28 October 1917
Appointed by King Edward VII
Major General Prince Arthur of Connaught (30 June 1905 – 12 September 1938)  British Army
1901–1922
Appointed by King George V
Lieutenant Colonel Duke of Teck (later Marquess of Cambridge) (3 June 1910 – 24 October 1927)  British Army
1888–1919
Major General Prince Alexander of Teck (later Earl of Athlone) (3 June 1910 – 16 January 1957)  British Army
1894–1931
Admiral of the Fleet
Field Marshal
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Prince of Wales (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936)
Duke of Windsor (11 December 1936 – 28 May 1972)
 Royal Navy
 British Army
1910–1919
Admiral
General
Air Chief Marshal
Prince Albert (later Duke of York) (3 June 1919 – 11 December 1936)  Royal Navy
 Royal Air Force
1913–1919
Field Marshal
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Duke of Gloucester (2 August 1929 – 10 June 1974)  British Army
1919–1937
Appointed by King Edward VIII
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Louis Mountbatten (later Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (23 June 1936 – 27 August 1979)  Royal Navy
1916–1965
Rear Admiral
Major General
Air Commodore
Duke of Kent (23 June 1936 – 25 August 1942)  Royal Navy
 Royal Air Force
1916–1942
Appointed by King George VI
Colonel Earl of Harewood (1 February 1937 – 24 May 1947)  British Army
12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947
Admiral of the Fleet
Field Marshal
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Captain General Royal Marines
Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948 – 9 April 2021)  Royal Navy
1939–1952
Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II
Admiral of the Fleet
Field Marshal
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Prince of Wales (6 December 1973 – 8 September 2022)  Royal Navy
1971–1977
 Royal Air Force
1971–1977
Vice Admiral Prince Andrew (later Duke of York) (1 February 1984 – 13 January 2022)  Royal Navy
1978–2001
Major

Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018 – 19 February 2021)  British Army
2005–2015

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-03-16 13:08 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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