Personal Aide-de-Camp to the King (or Queen) is an appointment in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. Unlike other aides-de-camp, it is held only by members of the British royal family with military rank. The appointment may be signified by the post-nominal letters 'ADC(P)'. It is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities attached.
History The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun in the 1870s by Queen Victoria. In 1895 she wrote to her cousin Prince George, 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'.
In 1937 and 1953, the Personal Aides-de-Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach in the Coronation procession.Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 34453, Page 7036, 10 November 1937Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 40020, Page 6230, 17 November 1953
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. 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, 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.Naval Dress Regulations, 2018.Uniform, dress and appearance regulations for the RAF, 2004.
List of Personal Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign by reign Ranks shown are as at the time of first appointment.
Victoria Rank(or appointment) Name and date of appointment Military branchYears served Field Marshal Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (1876 – 22 January 1901) Field Marshal Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (26 May 1876 – 22 January 1901) 1868–1942 Admiral of the Fleet Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) (26 May 1876 – 30 July 1900)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal NavyAugust 1858–30 July 1900 Field Marshal Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (November 1882 – 22 January 1901)(was appointed Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp on 1 November 1895)3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904 Captain Prince Albert Victor of Wales (later Duke of Clarence and Avondale) (21 June 1887 – 14 January 1892) Royal Navy 1877–1892 Lieutenant Prince George of Wales (later Duke of York) (21 June 1887 – 22 January 1901)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy Captain Prince Louis of Battenberg (later Marquess of Milford Haven) (1 January 1897 – 22 January 1901)(Honorary Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1868–1914 General Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (22 June 1897 – 22 January 1901) July 1866–28 October 1917
Edward VII Rank(or appointment) Name and date of appointment Military branchYears served Rear-Admiral Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York (later Prince of Wales) (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy Captain Prince Louis of Battenberg (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1868–1914 Field Marshal Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (1901 – 17 March 1904)(Chief Personal Aide-de-Camp)3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904 General Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1901 – 6 May 1910)1868–1942 General Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1901 – 6 May 1910)July 1866–28 October 1917 Lieutenant Prince Arthur of Connaught (30 June 1905 – 6 May 1910)1901–1922
George V Rank(or appointment) Name and date of appointment Military branchYears served Vice-Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg (later Marquess of Milford Haven) (3 June 1910 – 11 September 1921)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1868–1914 Field Marshal Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)1868–1942 Captain Prince Arthur of Connaught (3 June 1910 – 20 January 1936)1901–1922 General Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (3 June 1910 – 28 October 1917)July 1866–28 October 1917 Major Adolphus, Duke of Teck (later Marquess of Cambridge) (3 June 1910 – 24 October 1927)1888–1919 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (1 January 1919 – 20 January 1936)1894–1931Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 31245, Page 3839, 21 March 1919 Colonel Edward, Prince of Wales (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936) Royal Navy19101914–1919 Group Captain Prince Albert (later Duke of York) (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936) Royal Navy1913–19181918–1919 Captain Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (2 August 1929 – 20 January 1936)1919–1937 Lieutenant Prince George (later Duke of Kent) (19 July 1932 – 20 January 1936)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1916–1929
Edward VIII Rank(or appointment) Name and date of appointment Military branchYears served Field Marshal Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 May 1936 – 11 December 1936)1868–1942 Admiral Prince Albert, Duke of York (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1913–1918General1918–1919Air Chief Marshal Commander(Colonel-in-Chief) Prince George, Duke of Kent (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1916–1929 Commander Lord Louis Mountbatten (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1916–1965 Major Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936) 1919–1937 Hon. Major General Prince Arthur of Connaught (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936) 1901–1922 Hon. Major General Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936) 1894–1931 (Honorary Colonel) Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936) 12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947
George VI Rank(or appointment) Name and date of appointment Military branchYears served Captain(Colonel-in-Chief) Prince George, Duke of Kent (1 February 1937 – 25 August 1942)(also Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1916–1929 Commander Lord Louis Mountbatten (later Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952)(Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp) Royal Navy1916–1965 Major-GeneralAir Vice-Marshal Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952) 1919–1937 Field Marshal Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 February 1937 – 16 January 1942) Hon. Major General Prince Arthur of Connaught (1 February 1937 – 12 September 1938) 1901–1922 Hon. Major General Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (1 February 1937 – 6 February 1952) 1894–1931 (Honorary Colonel) Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (1 February 1937 – 24 May 1947) 12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947 Lieutenant Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948 – 6 February 1952) Royal Navy1939–1952
Elizabeth II Rank(or appointment) Name and date of appointment Military branchYears served General Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (10 March 1953 – 10 June 1974) 1919–1937 Hon. Major General Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (10 March 1953 – 16 January 1957) 1894–1931 Admiral Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (10 March 1953 – 27 August 1979) Royal Navy1916–1965 Captain Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (1 August 1966 – 8 September 2022)1955–1976 Lieutenant Charles, Prince of Wales (6 December 1973 – 8 September 2022) Royal Navy1971–19761971 Captain Mark Phillips (1 January 1974 – 1992)Compare Whitaker's Almanack 1992 and Whitaker's Almanack 19931969–1978 Lieutenant Prince Andrew (later Duke of York) (1 February 1984 – 13 January 2022) Royal Navy1978–2001 (Royal Honorary Colonel) Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (1 August 2004 – 8 September 2022) Royal Marines1986-1987 Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence (1 August 2004 – 8 September 2022)Court Circular, 30 July 2004 Royal Navy1973–2011 Lieutenant Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (17 March 2013 – 8 September 2022) Royal Navy2008Captain2006–2009Flight Lieutenant2008–2013 Lieutenant CommanderMajor Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018 – 19 February 2021)2005–2015Squadron Leader
Charles III Rank(or appointment) Name and date of appointment Military branchYears served CommanderWilliam, Prince of Wales (2023–present) Royal Navy2008Lieutenant Colonel2006–2009Wing Commander2008–2013 (Royal Honorary Colonel) Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (2023–present) Royal Marines1986–1987(Honorary Air Commodore) Admiral Anne, Princess Royal (2023–present)GeneralAir Chief Marshal
See also Equerry Aide-de-camp
References