Personal aide-de-camp

Personal Aide-de-Camp, is an appointment in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. It is distinct from that of other Aides-de-Camp to the Queen (or King), in that it is only bestowed on members of the Royal Family holding military rank. The appointment is signified by the post-nominal letters 'ADC(P)'. It is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities attached;[2] in the 20th century the Personal Aides de Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach at each Coronation, and walking or riding close behind the Gun Carriage at each State Funeral, of a monarch.[3]

The Duke of Cambridge wearing the insignia (aiguillette over his right shoulder and chest) of a personal aide-de-camp to the sovereign.[1]

History

The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun by Queen Victoria.[2] Among her first appointees was Prince Louis of Battenberg, who would go on to serve as Personal Aide-de-Camp to three successive monarchs (Victoria, Edward VII and George V). His son, Lord Louis Mountbatten, likewise went on to serve as ADC(P) to three successive monarchs (Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II).

Insignia

The emblem of the office is the royal cypher and crown (of the monarch who appointed the officer), which is worn on the uniform shoulder straps; and 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).[4]

Current ADC(P)s

Those in the Royal Family who currently hold the appointment are:

Rank	Name and Date of Appointment	Military branch Years served
Appointed by King George VI
Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force	Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948-Present)	Royal Navy 1939–1952
Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II
Field Marshal	Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (1 August 1966-Present)	British Army 1955–1976
Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force	Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (6 December 1973-Present)	Royal Navy 1971–1977  Royal Air Force 1971–1977
Captain (retired)	Mark Phillips (1 February 1974-Present)	British Army 1969–1978
Vice Admiral	Prince Andrew, Duke of York (1 February 1984-Present)	Royal Navy 1978–2001
Honorary Air Commodore	Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (1 August 2004-Present)
Vice Admiral	Sir Timothy Laurence (1 August 2004-Present)	Royal Navy 1973–2011
Squadron Leader Major Lieutenant Commander	Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (17 March 2013-Present) [5]	British Army 2006–2009  Royal Air Force 2009–2013
Major Squadron Leader Lieutenant Commander	Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018-Present) [6]	British Army 2005–2015

There are other categories of aides-de-camp to the Queen; 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 each with its own specific entitlement to post-nominal letters.

See also

• Equerry
• Aide-de-camp

References

1. Why Does Prince William Have a Gold Braid on His Uniform?, Harper's Bazaar
2. Allison, Ronald; Riddell, Sarah (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. London: Macmillan Press. p. 7. ISBN 0-333-53810-2.
3. London Gazette, various editions.
4. Army Dress Regulations 2017, part 10.
5. Duke of Cambridge becomes Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, March 17, 2013
6. Proctor, Charlie (15 October 2018). "The Queen makes Prince Harry a personal aide-de-camp – Royal Central". royalcentral.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2018.