Principal Painter in Ordinary

The title of Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King or Queen of England or, later, Great Britain, was awarded to a number of artists, nearly all mainly portraitists. It was different from the role of Serjeant Painter, and similar to the earlier role of "King's Painter". Other painters, for example Nicholas Hilliard had similar roles with different titles. "Principal Painter in Ordinary", first used for Sir Anthony van Dyck, became settled as the usual title with John Riley in 1689.
The title reflected those used in other courts, especially the French Premier peintre du Roi, which dated to 1603. After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the appointment of the last and not very distinguished holder, James Sant, who was in his eighties, was not renewed for the new reign.
The following is a partial list of painters who held the appointment of Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, or Queen:

Born 16th or 17th century

Sir Anthony van Dyck, Principalle Paynter in Ordinary to King Charles I and his Queen
Sir Peter Lely, Limner and Picture Drawer to King Charles II
John Riley, Painter and Picture Drawer, 1681–1689, then Principal Painter in Ordinary, 1689–1691, jointly with Kneller
Antonio Verrio, Chief First Painter, 1684–1688
Sir Godfrey Kneller, Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, 1689–1723
Charles Jervas, Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, 1723–1739
William Kent, Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, 1740–1748, mainly a designer of interior decorations

Born 18th century

John Shackleton, Principal Painter in Ordinary to King George II and then King George III, 1749–1767
Allan Ramsay, Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, 1767–1784
Sir Joshua Reynolds, Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, 1784–1792
Sir Thomas Lawrence, Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, 1792–1830
Sir David Wilkie, Principal Painter in Ordinary to King William IV and then Queen Victoria, 1830–1841
Sir George Hayter, Principal Painter in Ordinary to Queen Victoria, 1841–1871

Born 19th century

James Sant, Principal Painter in Ordinary to Queen Victoria, 1871–1901

Similar titles

Van Dyck's appointment, like that of Kneller, was specifically to both the king and queen, but later ones normally only mentioned the monarch. Queen consorts sometimes made their own appointments. In 1796, when Lawrence was Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, William Beechey was "Portraitist" to Queen Charlotte, and also John Hoppner was "Portrait Painter to the Prince of Wales", having succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds. Other occasional positions created included the "Flower Painter in Ordinary", "Miniature Painter in Ordinary", and "Marine Painter in Ordinary". Sir Francis Bourgeois was appointed as royal landscape painter by George III in 1791. His Majesty's Painter and Limner is part of the Royal Household in Scotland.