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Lord ChamberlainThe role of the Lord Chamberlain, as senior Member of the Household, is to oversee the conduct and general business of the Royal Household and to be a source and focal point for important matters which have implications for the Household as a whole. His role is non-executive and the post is, therefore, part-time.His specific responsibilities are: chairing meetings of Heads of Departments (Lord Chamberlain's Committee) and generally being available for consultation with Heads of Departments, close involvement with all senior appointments and undertaking ceremonial duties as required. He is the channel of communication between the Sovereign and the House of Lords. The position of Lord Chamberlain dates from the Middle Ages, when the King's Chamberlain often acted as the King's spokesman in Council and Parliament. Until 1924, the appointment was a political one; today, the Lord Chamberlain does not participate in political activities. The symbols of his office are a white staff and a key, which are carried on ceremonial occasions. The staff is symbolically broken over the grave of a deceased Sovereign, which signifies that the Household is dissolved. |
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