Groom in Waiting


The office of Groom in Waiting was a post in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, which in earlier times was usually held by more than one person at a time – in the late Middle Ages there might be dozens of persons with the rank, though the Esquires and Knights of the Body were more an important and select group. Grooms-in-Waiting to other members of the Royal Family and Extra Grooms in Waiting were also sometimes appointed. For the general history of court valets or grooms see Valet de chambre.
From the time of the Restoration (1660), the king was attended by Grooms of the Bedchamber, whose functions as attendants on the monarch's person were performed in the reign of Queen Anne by Women of the Bedchamber. By the time of Queen Victoria, however, the majority of political offices no longer involving regular attendance on the sovereign, there were appointed, in addition to the Queen's Women of the Bedchamber, eight Grooms in Waiting who would discharge those political and social functions of the Grooms of the Bedchamber which could not be undertaken by the Queen's attendants of the female sex. After Queen Victoria's reign, the nomenclature of "Grooms in Waiting" was retained in preference to "Grooms of the Bedchamber".
One of the holders of the office was designated the Parliamentary Groom in Waiting from about 1859, when it became customary to appoint a Member of Parliament who was a supporter of the government of the day. In addition to his political functions, the Parliamentary Groom in Waiting was in attendance on the Queen with the other grooms. The office became vacant in 1891, when Brownlow Cecil, Baron Burghley was promoted to the similar political office of Vice-Chamberlain of the Household. The political office fell into disuse in 1892, since which time it has not been revived, although this did not affect the non-political, court position of Groom in Waiting.

List of Parliamentary Grooms in Waiting

List of all Grooms in Waiting

Victoria (1837–1901 )

In Ordinary
Date
17 July 1837General Sir William LumleyAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtColonel Thomas ArmstrongCharles Augustus MurrayWilliam Cowper MPHenry Rich MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.-
27 July 1837General Sir William LumleyAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtColonel Thomas ArmstrongCharles Augustus MurrayWilliam Cowper MPHenry Rich MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
12 June 1838General Sir William LumleyAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtColonel Thomas ArmstrongGeorge KeppelWilliam Cowper MPHenry Rich MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
7 September 1841General Sir William LumleyAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtCaptain Henry MeynellGeorge KeppelWilliam Cowper MPHenry Rich MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
14 September 1841General Sir William LumleyAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtCaptain Henry MeynellGeorge KeppelWilliam Cowper MPJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
21 September 1841General Sir William LumleyAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtCaptain Henry MeynellCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodWilliam Cowper MPJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
24 September 1841General Sir William LumleyAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtCaptain Henry MeynellCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodArthur Duncombe MPJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
7 November 1842Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtCaptain Henry MeynellCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodArthur Duncombe MPJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
3 March 1846Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondAdmiral Sir Robert Otway, BtCaptain Henry MeynellCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
4 August 1846Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondAdmiral Sir Edward CodringtonCaptain Henry MeynellCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
5 October 1846Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondAdmiral Sir Edward CodringtonLieutenant Colonel Robert Edward Boyle MPCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
11 July 1848Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondCaptain Joseph DenmanLieutenant Colonel Robert Edward Boyle MPCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
23 March 1852Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondCaptain Joseph DenmanWilliam Stuart Knox MPCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
13 July 1852Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondMortimer Sackville-WestWilliam Stuart Knox MPCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
3 March 1853Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel Robert Edward Boyle MPCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
23 January 1854Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishCaptain Alexander Nelson HoodMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
21 January 1858Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterJohn Ormsby-GoreSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
25 June 1859Lieutenant-General Berkeley DrummondMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterColonel Sir Robert Kingscote MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
24 September 1859Rear-Admiral Sir Henry KeppelMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterColonel Sir Robert Kingscote MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin
18 November 1859Rear-Admiral Sir Henry KeppelMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterColonel Sir Robert Kingscote MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.General Sir Henry Bentinck
17 April 1860Rear-Admiral Sir William Hoste, Bart.Mortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Edward BowaterColonel Sir Robert Kingscote MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.General Sir Henry Bentinck
26 December 1861Rear-Admiral Sir William Hoste, Bart.Mortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayColonel Sir Robert Kingscote MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.General Sir Henry Bentinck
1 August 1866Rear-Admiral Sir William Hoste, Bart.Mortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh Lindsay MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.General Sir Henry Bentinck
1 June 1867Rear-Admiral Sir William Hoste, Bart.Mortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh Lindsay MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.Major-General Francis Seymour
18 January 1868Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh Lindsay MPSir Henry Seton, Bart.Major-General Francis Seymour
21 July 1868Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh Lindsay MPMajor-General Francis Seymour
22 December 1868Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayCaptain Algernon Greville-Nugent MPMajor-General Francis Seymour
1 January 1869Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayCaptain Algernon Greville-Nugent MPLieutenant Colonel Ernest Augustus Murray MacGregorMajor-General Francis Seymour
8 March 1869Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayCaptain Algernon Greville-Nugent MPColonel Henry Lyndenoch GardinerMajor-General Francis Seymour
1 October 1872Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayCaptain Algernon Greville-Nugent MPLieutenant Colonel Henry ByngMajor-General Francis Seymour
4 November 1873Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayWilliam Edwardes, 4th Baron Kensington MPLieutenant Colonel Henry ByngMajor-General Francis Seymour
13 February 1874Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James MurrayWilliam Edwardes, 4th Baron Kensington MPJohn Francis Campbell of IslayMajor-General Francis Seymour
6 March 1874Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellColonel Lord James Murray-John Francis Campbell of IslayMajor-General Francis Seymour
26 May 1874Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellCaptain John Edmund Commerell-John Francis Campbell of IslayMajor-General Francis Seymour
24 February 1876Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrMortimer Sackville-WestLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellCaptain John Edmund CommerellLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayJohn Francis Campbell of Islay-
1 October 1876Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrCaptain Charles Edmund PhippsLieutenant Colonel William Henry Frederick CavendishColonel George LiddellCaptain John Edmund CommerellLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayJohn Francis Campbell of Islay-
21 December 1877Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrCaptain Charles Edmund PhippsMajor Arthur Frederick PickardColonel George LiddellCaptain John Edmund CommerellLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayJohn Francis Campbell of Islay-
9 December 1879Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrCaptain Charles Edmund PhippsMajor Arthur Frederick PickardColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayJohn Francis Campbell of Islay-
1 January 1880Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Arthur BiggeMajor Arthur Frederick PickardColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayJohn Francis Campbell of Islay-
22 March 1880Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Arthur BiggeCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayJohn Francis Campbell of Islay-
20 May 1880Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Arthur BiggeCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayJohn Francis Campbell of IslayLieutenant Colonel William Carington MP
24 July 1880Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Arthur BiggeCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellLieutenant Colonel William Carington MP
9 May 1881Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsColonel George LiddellMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellLieutenant Colonel William Carington MP
29 December 1882Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsColonel Henry EwartMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellLieutenant Colonel William Carington MP
3 March 1883Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsColonel Henry EwartMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Gerard Smith MP
30 June 1884Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Gerard Smith MP
8 July 1885Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellSir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 4th Baronet
10 February 1886Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellCharles Robert Spencer MP
13 August 1886Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphLieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh LindsayCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellBrownlow Cecil, Baron Burghley MP
8 April 1889Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphMajor Henry LeggeCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellBrownlow Cecil, Baron Burghley MP
24 November 1891Rear-Admiral Lord Frederick KerrLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphMajor Henry LeggeCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell
31 December 1891Admiral John Edmund CommerellLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphMajor Henry LeggeCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell
21 May 1892Admiral John Edmund CommerellLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphMajor Henry LeggeCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Lord William Cecil
1 October 1893Admiral John Edmund CommerellLieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphCaptain Malcolm DrummondCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Lord William Cecil
1 February 1895Admiral John Edmund CommerellCaptain Charles HarbordCaptain Fleetwood EdwardsAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphCaptain Malcolm DrummondCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Lord William Cecil
6 June 1895Admiral John Edmund CommerellCaptain Charles HarbordColonel Henry Donald BrowneAlexander Grantham YorkeMajor-General Sir Michael BiddulphCaptain Malcolm DrummondCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Lord William Cecil
16 December 1895Admiral John Edmund CommerellCaptain Charles HarbordColonel Henry Donald BrowneAlexander Grantham YorkeLieutenant Colonel Arthur DavidsonCaptain Malcolm DrummondCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Lord William Cecil
30 June 1896Admiral John Edmund CommerellCaptain Charles HarbordColonel Henry Donald BrowneAlexander Grantham YorkeGeneral Henry Lyndenoch GardinerCaptain Malcolm DrummondCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Lord William Cecil
25 December 1897Admiral John Edmund CommerellCaptain Charles HarbordColonel Henry Donald BrowneAlexander Grantham YorkeLieutenant-General Godfrey ClerkCaptain Malcolm DrummondCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset CampbellColonel Lord William Cecil

Extra
  • 17 July 1837-18 December 1842 General Sir Frederick Augustus Wetherall
  • 7 November 1842-15 December 1850 General Sir William Lumley
  • 31 December 1844-3 June 1895 Charles Augustus Murray
  • 24 September 1859-3 May 1860 Lieutenant-General Berkeley Drummond
  • 28 March 1860-16 August 1865 General Sir Frederick Stovin
  • 1 April 1861-26 December 1861 Colonel Lord James Murray
  • 26 December 1861-1 June 1867 Colonel Francis Seymour
  • 30 July 1866-22 January 1901 Lieutenant Walter George Stirling
  • 24 February 1876-10 July 1890 Lieutenant General Francis Seymour
  • 21 December 1877-11 March 1881 Lieutenant Colonel William Cavendish
  • 23 October 1878-22 March 1880 Captain Fleetwood Edwards
  • 29 December 1882-14 December 1888 Colonel George Liddell
  • 13 April 1884-30 June 1884 Alexander Grantham Yorke
  • 15 March 1888-22 January 1901 Major-General Thomas Dennehy
  • 23 June 1891-31 December 1891 Admiral Sir John Edmund Commerell
  • 31 December 1891-15 January 1896 Admiral Lord Frederick Kerr
  • 16 December 1895-22 January 1901 General Sir Michael Biddulph

Edward VII (1901–1910)

In Ordinary
Date
23 July 1901Lieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonSidney GrevilleHarry StonorAdmiral Sir John FullertonSir Alexander Condie StephenGeneral Godfrey ClerkCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell
14 November 1905Lieutenant Colonel Lord Edward ClintonSidney GrevilleHarry StonorArthur WalshSir Alexander Condie StephenGeneral Godfrey ClerkCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell
18 July 1907Sir Archibald Edmonstone, Bart.Sidney GrevilleHarry StonorRear-Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne, Bart.Sir Alexander Condie StephenGeneral Godfrey ClerkCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell
4 June 1908Sir Archibald Edmonstone, Bart.Sidney GrevilleHarry StonorColonel Henry StreatfeildSir John Lister-Kaye, Bart.General Godfrey ClerkCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell
9 October 1908Sir Archibald Edmonstone, Bart.Sidney GrevilleHarry StonorCommander Charles Cunninghame GrahamSir John Lister-Kaye, Bart.General Godfrey ClerkCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell
30 November 1908Sir Archibald Edmonstone, Bart.Sidney GrevilleHarry StonorCommander Charles Cunninghame GrahamSir John Lister-Kaye, Bart.Montague EliotCaptain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell

Extra

George V (1910–1936)

In Ordinary
Date
10 June 1910Captain Seymour John FortescueSidney GrevilleHarry StonorCommander Charles Cunninghame GrahamColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Captain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell--
2 January 1911Harry Lloyd-VerneyCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorCommander Charles Cunninghame GrahamColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Captain Walter Douglas Somerset Campbell--
14 April 1916Harry Lloyd-VerneyCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorCommander Charles Cunninghame GrahamColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Colonel Claude Willoughby--
6 July 1917Harry Lloyd-VerneyCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorRear-Admiral Henry Hervey CampbellColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Colonel Claude Willoughby--
21 March 1919Harry Lloyd-VerneyCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorRear-Admiral Henry Hervey CampbellColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Colonel Claude WilloughbyRichard Molyneux-
3 December 1920Harry Lloyd-VerneyCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorRear-Admiral Henry Hervey CampbellColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Colonel Claude WilloughbyRichard MolyneuxSidney Greville
12 June 1927Harry Lloyd-VerneyCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorRear-Admiral Henry Hervey CampbellColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Colonel Claude WilloughbyRichard Molyneux-
9 June 1931Sir Gerald ChichesterCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorRear-Admiral Henry Hervey CampbellColonel William LambtonEdward William Wallington, Esq.Colonel Claude WilloughbyRichard Molyneux-
6 May 1932Sir Gerald ChichesterCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorRear-Admiral Henry Hervey CampbellColonel William LambtonColonel Sir Victor Mackenzie, 3rd BaronetColonel Claude WilloughbyRichard Molyneux-
11 October 1932Sir Gerald ChichesterCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorRear-Admiral Henry Hervey CampbellColonel William LambtonColonel Sir Victor Mackenzie, 3rd BaronetAdmiral Sir Henry BullerRichard Molyneux-
26 May 1933Sir Gerald ChichesterCaptain Philip HunlokeHarry StonorBrigadier-General George PaynterColonel William LambtonColonel Sir Victor Mackenzie, 3rd BaronetAdmiral Sir Henry BullerRichard Molyneux-

Extra

Edward VIII (1936)

In Ordinary
No ordinary grooms-in-waiting were appointed to attend Edward VIII during his reign as King-Emperor.
Extra

George VI (1936–1952)

In Ordinary
Extra

Elizabeth II (1952–2022 )

In Ordinary
Extra