Personal aide-de-camp

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)'.^[2] It is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities attached.^[3]

History

The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun in the 1870s by Queen Victoria.^[3] In 1895 she wrote to her cousin The Duke of Cambridge (who was approaching the end of his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces) to inform him of her intention to appoint him as her first personal Aide-de-Camp, 'with the right of attending me on all military occasions and of holding the Parade on my birthday'.^[4]

In 1937 and 1953, the Personal Aides-de-Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach in the Coronation procession.^[5][6]

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.

Insignia

The emblems of the office are the royal cypher and crown (of the monarch who appointed the officer), which is worn on the uniform shoulder straps; and (when wearing certain classes of uniform) 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.^[7] In the 20th century, the royal cyphers worn by Personal Aides-de-Camp differed from those worn by other officers in that they consisted of block letters,^[8] rather than being of the usual stylised format.

Personal Aides-de-Camp continue to wear the royal cypher on their shoulder straps even after relinquishing the appointment, and if the appointment was held under more than one sovereign then the cypher of each is worn.^[9][10]

List of Personal Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign by reign

Ranks shown are as at the time of first appointment.

Charles III

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Commander Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander	The Prince of Wales (2023–present)[11]	Royal Navy 2008  British Army 2006–2009  Royal Air Force 2008–2013
Honorary Air Commodore	The Duke of Edinburgh (2023–present)[11]	Royal Marines 1986–1987
Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	The Princess Royal (2023–present)[12][13]

Elizabeth II

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force	The Duke of Gloucester (10 March 1953 – 10 June 1974)	British Army 1919–1937[14]
Major General	The Earl of Athlone (10 March 1953 – 16 January 1957)	British Army 1894–1931[15]
Admiral of the Fleet	The Earl Mountbatten of Burma (10 March 1953 – 27 August 1979)[16][17]	Royal Navy 1916–1965
Field Marshal Honorary Air Chief Marshal	The Duke of Kent (1 August 1966–8 September 2022)[18]	British Army 1955–1976
Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force	The Prince of Wales (6 December 1973 – 8 September 2022)[19]	Royal Navy 1971–1977  Royal Air Force 1971–1977
Captain (retired)	Mark Phillips (1 January 1974[20]–1992[21])	British Army 1969–1978
Vice Admiral	The Prince Andrew (later The Duke of York) (1 February 1984 – 13 January 2022)[22][23]	Royal Navy 1978–2001
Honorary Air Commodore	The Earl of Wessex (later The Duke of Edinburgh) (1 August 2004–8 September 2022)	Royal Marines 1986-1987
Vice Admiral	Sir Timothy Laurence (1 August 2004–8 September 2022)	Royal Navy 1973–2011
Lieutenant Commander Major Squadron Leader	The Duke of Cambridge (17 March 2013–8 September 2022)[24]	Royal Navy 2008  British Army 2006–2009  Royal Air Force 2008–2013
Major Lieutenant Commander Squadron Leader	The Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018 – 19 February 2021)[25]	British Army 2005–2015

George VI

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Captain Honorary Colonel	The Duke of Kent (1 February 1937 – 25 August 1942) (also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy  Royal Air Force 1916–1942[26]
Commander	Lord Louis Mountbatten (later The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and The Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)[16] (Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy 1916–1965[27]
Major-General Air Vice-Marshal	The Duke of Gloucester (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)	British Army 1919–1937[28]
Field Marshal	The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 February 1937 – 16 January 1942)	British Army[29]
Major General	Prince Arthur of Connaught (1 February 1937 – 12 September 1938)	British Army 1901–1922[30]
Major General	The Earl of Athlone (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)	British Army 1894–1931[31]
Honorary Colonel	The Earl of Harewood (1 February 1937 – 24 May 1947)	British Army 12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947[32]
Lieutenant	The Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948 – 6 February 1952)[33]	Royal Navy 1939–1952

Edward VIII

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Field Marshal	The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 May 1936 – 11 December 1936)	British Army 1868–1942[34]
Admiral of the Fleet	Lord Louis Mountbatten (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)[35]	Royal Navy 1916–1965
Admiral General Air Chief Marshal	The Duke of York (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)	Royal Navy  Royal Air Force 1913–1919[35]
Rear Admiral Major General Air Commodore	The Duke of Kent (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)	Royal Navy  Royal Air Force 1916–1942[35]
Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force	The Duke of Gloucester (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)	British Army 1919–1937[36]
Major General	Prince Arthur of Connaught (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)	British Army 1901–1922[37]
Major General	The Earl of Athlone (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)	British Army 1894–1931[38]
Colonel	The Earl of Harewood (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)	British Army 12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947[39]

George V

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Vice-Admiral	Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (3 June 1910 – 11 September 1921) (Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy 1868–1914[40]
Field Marshal	The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)	British Army 1868–1942[41]
Captain	Prince Arthur of Connaught (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)	British Army 1901–1922[42]
General	Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (3 June 1910 – 28 October 1917)	British Army July 1866–28 October 1917[43]
Major	The Duke of Teck (later The Marquess of Cambridge) (3 June 1910 – 24 October 1927)[44]	British Army 1888–1919
Lieutenant-Colonel	The Earl of Athlone (1 January 1919 – 20 January 1936)	British Army 1894–1931[45]
Colonel	The Prince of Wales (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936)	Royal Navy  British Army 1910–1919[46]
Captain	The Prince Albert (later The Duke of York) (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936)	Royal Navy  Royal Air Force 1913–1919[46]
Captain	The Duke of Gloucester (2 August 1929 – 20 January 1936)	British Army 1919–1937[47]
Lieutenant	The Prince George (later The Duke of Kent) (19 July 1932 – 20 January 1936) (Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy  Royal Air Force 1916–1942[48]

Edward VII

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Rear-Admiral	The Duke of Cornwall and York (later The Prince of Wales) (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910) (Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy[49]
Captain	Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910) (Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy 1868–1914[50]
Field Marshal	The Duke of Cambridge (1901 – 17 March 1904) (Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp)	British Army 3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904[51]
General	The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1901 – 6 May 1910)	British Army 1868–1942[52]
General	Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1901 – 6 May 1910)	British Army July 1866–28 October 1917[53]
Lieutenant	Prince Arthur of Connaught (30 June 1905 – 6 May 1910)	British Army 1901–1922[54]

Victoria

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Field Marshal	The Prince of Wales (1876 – 22 January 1901)[55]	British Army
Field Marshal	The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (26 May 1876 – 22 January 1901)	British Army 1868–1942
Admiral of the Fleet	The Duke of Edinburgh (later The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) (26 May 1876 – 30 July 1900)[56] (Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy August 1858–30 July 1900
Field Marshal	The Duke of Cambridge (November 1882 – 22 January 1901)[57] (was appointed Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp on 1 November 1895)[58]	British Army 3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904
Captain	Prince Albert Victor of Wales (later The Duke of Clarence and Avondale) (21 June 1887 – 14 January 1892)[59]	Royal Navy  British Army 1877–1892
Lieutenant	Prince George of Wales (later The Duke of York) (21 June 1887 – 22 January 1901)[60] (Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy
Captain	Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (1 January 1897 – 22 January 1901) (Honorary Naval Aide-de-Camp)	Royal Navy 1868–1914[61]
General	Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (22 June 1897 – 22 January 1901)[62]	British Army July 1866–28 October 1917

See also

• Equerry
• Aide-de-camp

References