King's Messenger

[1] The formal role and title ‘Royal Messenger’, whether to King or Queen, is most certainly evident within the retinues of the English monarchy, certainly extending back to the early 12th century.

They were the primary means for communication with local officials such as sheriffs and mayors and travelled in circuits so that the King and his staff had regular updates on the actions that had been commanded.

During his exile, Charles II appointed four trusted men to convey messages to Royalist forces in England.

[5] As a sign of their authority, the King broke four silver greyhounds from a bowl familiar to royal courtiers, and gave one to each man.

[8] Lord Malmesbury, who was Foreign Secretary 1858-1859, attempted to revise their salary to £525 plus travel expenses without any other emoluments and reduced their number to 15.

In 1859 Lord John Russell became Foreign Secretary and their salary was eventually settled at £400 a year with a £1 daily allowance when abroad (excluding departures) plus travel expenses, which came into force in 1861.

Fewer Messengers were needed because of the greater use of rail travel in Europe with journeys "recurring on stated days of the month - and to certain capitals only - principally Paris, Berlin, Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Constantinople.

"[7] Modern communications have diminished the role of the King's Messengers, but as original confidential documents still need to be conveyed securely between countries, their function remains valuable, but declining.

[12] In December 2015 an article in the Daily Express suggested that the Queen's Messenger service was "facing the chop by cost-cutting Foreign Office mandarins who see them as a legacy of a by-gone age".