Guidance for host organisation when receiving the Lord-Lieutenant or his representative.

The guidance is provided to assist you if you are planning an event to which the Lord-Lieutenant has been (or is to be) invited.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire is His Majesty The King's representative and therefore he should be received at any event with the same degree of etiquette and protocol as a member of the Royal Family.  If, for any reason, the Lord-Lieutenant is unable to attend an event to which he has been invited, and he is represented by his Vice Lord-Lieutenant, or a Deputy Lieutenant, the same etiquette and protocol should be followed.

Traditional Protocol to Follow

When attending an official ceremony or formal occasion, including award presentations and processions, the Lord-Lieutenant takes precedence over all other guests.

On arrival, the Lord-Lieutenant should be received by a named person, usually the host, and should continue to be accompanied throughout the entire engagement. The Lord-Lieutenant will arrive at a designated time that is slightly later than the other guests and should be the last person to take their seat.

Necessary Details

To allow events to run smoothly for the comfort of everyone, it is important to provide all the necessary details of the visit in advance including:

• Dress Code
• Time and date
• Parking details (the Lord-Lieutenant will arrive by car, for which a space must be provided)
• Accurate venue details
• Detailed notes for any speech the Lord-Lieutenant is expected to deliver
• The Name of the host who will be meeting the Lord-Lieutenant and details of the meeting point.

The protocol is helpful in making sure hosts and guests feel comfortable during a visit from the Lord-Lieutenant and uphold the dignity of the Crown.

Approach to His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

The Lord-Lieutenant may be contacted through the Lieutenancy Office providing the name of the event, date, time and any available background information.

Etiquette

The correct form of address for the Lord-Lieutenant is as follows:

Written:             Mr Edward Harley CBE, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire

Salutation:        Dear Lord-Lieutenant

In a Speech:     In the preamble the Lord-Lieutenant should be referred to as “My Lord-Lieutenant”

Conversation:   Mr Harley should initially be addressed as “Lord-Lieutenant” and thereafter as “Mr Harley”.

Should the Lord-Lieutenant be represented by his Vice Lord-Lieutenant or a Deputy Lieutenant, the above etiquette should be adapted accordingly ie ‘Dear Vice Lord-Lieutenant’, ‘Dear Deputy Lieutenant’.

Church/Service Seating

The arrangement for the Lord-Lieutenant to be seated at the front of the nave on the south side.  For funerals however, if the family is on the south side, the Lord-Lieutenant sits on the north side at the front and on the aisle edge.  At funerals, the Lord-Lieutenant or his representative always enters the church last, (two minutes before the start of the service and before the clergy, coffin and before the immediate family) and always leaves straight after the family.

At all other functions, the Lord-Lieutenant should be seated in the same place as you would seat a member of the Royal Family; simply as the principal guest, at the front on the aisle edge.

For other church services the Lord-Lieutenant or his representative enters last and leaves first.

Plaques

Any wording for plaques should be sent to the Lieutenancy Office for approval prior to being produced.

Other issues relating to protocol and precedence can be clarified in consultation with the Lieutenancy Office