Great Officers of State (United Kingdom)
In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are traditional ministers of the Crown who either inherit their positions or are appointed to exercise certain largely ceremonial functions or to operate as members of the government.
[2] The Great Officers then gradually expanded to cover multiple duties, and have now become largely ceremonial.
The most visible duty of the Lord High Steward today, even though purely ceremonial, is bearing St Edward's Crown at the coronations of monarchs.
The Lord High Stewardship was held by the Earls of Leicester until 1399, when it was merged into the Crown.
[11] Since 1421, the office is vested during coronations (and in the past for the trial of peers, a procedure abolished in 1948),[12] and is otherwise left vacant.
[25] Since 1951, the office has usually been held by either the Leader of the House of Commons or the Leader of the House of Lords, with the other serving as Lord Privy Seal, though the office can be given to other high-ranking government ministers.
[27] The Chamberlain also has charge of the Palace of Westminster (working within the House of Lords), and is responsible for arrangements during the State Opening of Parliament, a role which he shares with the Earl Marshal.
Later, however, the Chamberlainship came to be inherited by the Earl of Lindsey and then his multiple heirs, who later became the Dukes of Ancaster and Kesteven.
[30] The Lord High Constable (formally the Lord High Constable of England) was the commander of the royal armies and the Master of the Horse and, in conjunction with the Earl Marshal, president of the Court of Chivalry or Court of Honour.
[31] The office was originally inherited by the Earls of Hereford, though it reverted to the Crown in 1512 on the attainder of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, and is now reinstated only for the day of a coronation (where he commands the whole of the coronation troops).
His Majesty's High Court of Chivalry, with jurisdiction over all matters relating to heraldry, is presided over by the Earl Marshal.
[35] The Lord High Admiral (formally the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom) is the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy, holding no command at sea but, rather, jurisdiction over maritime affairs, including courts.
[36] The office is vested in the Crown, who may otherwise dispense it to other individuals (mainly members of the Royal Family),[37] or put it under commission, notably when it was held by the Board of Admiralty, from 1708 to 1964.
The Lord Advocate is at the head of the law offices of Scotland; all prosecutors act in his/her name.
As a symbol of office, the Earl Marshal carries a baton of gold with black finish at each end, represented in saltire behind the Duke's coat of arms.
