Master of the Robes
Encyclopedia
The Master of the Robes was an office in the British Royal Household. He was responsible for the King's robes at times such as a coronation
, the annual Order of the Garter
service and the State Opening of Parliament
. Since the reign of King Edward VII
, the office has only been filled for coronations (note, the office is not allocated during the reign of a queen regnant
). Below is a list of known office holders:
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
, the annual Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
service and the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
. Since the reign of King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, the office has only been filled for coronations (note, the office is not allocated during the reign of a queen regnant
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
). Below is a list of known office holders:
James I
- 1603-1617: ?
- 1617-1625: Christopher VilliersChristopher Villiers, 1st Earl of AngleseyChristopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey , known at court as Kit Villiers, was an English courtier, Gentleman of the Bedchamber and later Master of the Robes to King James I...
Charles, Prince of Wales, later Charles I
- 1611-1622: Hon. Robert CareyRobert Carey, 1st Earl of MonmouthRobert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth was an English nobleman and courtier. He was the youngest son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and Anne Morgan, daughter of Sir Thomas Morgan and Anne Whitney.As a young man he accompanied several diplomatic missions abroad and took part in military expeditions...
- 1622-1628: Spencer Compton, Lord ComptonSpencer Compton, 2nd Earl of NorthamptonSpencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton , styled Lord Compton from 1618 to 1630, was an English peer, soldier and politician....
- 1628-1649: ?
Charles II
- 1660-1662: Henry Cavendish, Viscount Mansfield
- 1662-1678: Hon. Lawrence Hyde
- 1678-1679: Sidney Godolphin
- 1679-1685: Hon. Henry SydneyHenry Sydney, 1st Earl of RomneyHenry Sydney , 1st Earl of Romney was born in Paris, a son of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, of Penshurst Place in Kent, England, by Lady Dorothy Percy, a daughter of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland and sister of Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland.Henry was a brother of...
James II
- 1685-1687: Arthur HerbertArthur Herbert, 1st Earl of TorringtonArthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington was a British admiral and politician of the late 17th and early 18th century. Cashiered as a rear-admiral by James II of England in 1688 for refusing to vote to repeal the Test Act, which prevented Catholics from holding offices, he brought the Invitation to...
- 1687-1688: Lord Thomas Howard
William III
- 1690-1695: William Nassau de ZuylesteinWilliam Nassau de Zuylestein, 1st Earl of RochfordWilliam Nassau de Zuylestein, 1st Earl of Rochford was a Dutch soldier and diplomat in the service of William III of England...
- 1695-1701: Arnold van KeppelArnold van Keppel, 1st Earl of AlbemarleArnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle KG, and lord of De Voorst in Guelders , was the son of Oswald van Keppel and his wife Anna Geertruid van Lintelo...
- 1701: Cornelius Nassau
George I
- 1714-1726: William CadoganWilliam Cadogan, 1st Earl CadoganWilliam Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan KT PC was a noted military officer in the army of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during the War of the Spanish Succession...
- 1727: George Cholmondeley, Viscount MalpasGeorge Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of CholmondeleyGeorge Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley KB, PC , styled as Viscount Malpas from 1725 to 1733, was a British peer and Whig politician.-Life:...
George III
- 1760-1791: Hon. James BrudenellJames Brudenell, 5th Earl of CardiganJames Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan held several offices in the Parliament of Great Britain and in service to the King of Great Britain....
- 1791-1808: Sir James Peachey
- 1808-1809: Hon. William HarcourtWilliam Harcourt, 3rd Earl HarcourtField Marshal William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, GCB was a British nobleman and soldier. He was the younger son of Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt.-Seven Years War:...
- 1809-1812: Hon. Henry Sedley
- 1812-1820: Charles Nassau Thomas
William IV
- 1830: Sir Charles Pole, Bt.Charles Morice PoleAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Morice Pole, 1st Baronet naval officer and colonial governor born England and died Denham Abbey, Hertfordshire, England....
- 1830-1837: Sir George SeymourGeorge Francis SeymourAdmiral of the Fleet Sir George Francis Seymour, GCB, GCH, PC was a Royal Navy officer.-Naval career:...