Commander of ceremonial military units in London
Badge of the Household Division Edward Smyth-Osbourne in the full-dress uniform of a Major-General, on duty at the State Opening of Parliament in 2015The Major-General commanding the Household Division commands the Household Division of the British Army and is also the General Officer Commanding London District . In British Army parlance, "The Major-General" always refers to the Major-General commanding the Household Division. The Major-General has sole responsibility for the Service aspect of all State and ceremonial occasions within London District. The office holds executive command of the Household Division and of any other units brought into London for providing military security to the Sovereign , the Royal Palaces as well as for ceremonial purposes and is the main channel of communication between the Household Division and the Monarch. He or she is appointed by The Sovereign, and will previously have commanded a Regiment or Battalion within the Household Division.[1]
List of Commanders
The holders of this office include:[2] [3]
Commanding Home District
Major-General Commanding the Brigade of Guards (1856–1870)
Before 1856, orders for the Foot Guards were communicated to the Field Officer in Brigade Waiting , a rotational appointment.
Major-General Commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding Home District (1870–1906)
Major-General Commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding London District (1906–1950)
Major-General Sir Frederick Stopford , KCVO CB 1906–1909 late Grenadier Guards
Major-General Sir Alfred Codrington , GCVO KCB 1909–1913 late Coldstream Guards
Lieutenant-General Sir Francis Lloyd GCVO KCB DSO 1913–1918 late Grenadier Guards
Major-General Sir Geoffrey Feilding KCB KCVO CMG DSO 1918–1920 late Coldstream Guards
Major-General Sir George Jeffreys KCVO CB CMG 1920–1924 late Grenadier Guards
Major-General Lord Ruthven of Freeland , CB CMG DSO 1924–1928 late Scots Guards
Major-General Sir Charles Corkran , KCVO CB CMG 1928–1932 late Grenadier Guards
Major-General Albemarle Cator , CB DSO April – November 1932 late Scots Guards
Major-General Sir Charles Grant , KCB KCVO DSO 1932–1934 late Coldstream Guards
Major-General Sir Bertram Sergison-Brooke , KCB KCVO CMG DSO 1934–1938 late Grenadier Guards
Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Thorne , KCB CMG DSO 1938–1939 late Grenadier Guards
Lieutenant-General Sir Bertram Sergison-Brooke , KCB KCVO CMG DSO 1939–1942 late Grenadier Guards
Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Smith , KCB KBE DSO MC 1942–1944 late Coldstream Guards
Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Loyd , GCVO KCB DSO MC 1944–1947 late Coldstream Guards
Major-General Sir John Marriott , KCVO CB DSO MC 1947–1950 late Scots Guards
Major-General Commanding the Household Brigade and General Officer Commanding London District (1950–1968)
Major-General Commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District (1968–)
Major-General Lord Michael Fitzalan-Howard , GCVO CB CBE MC 1968–1971 late The Life Guards
Major-General Sir James Bowes-Lyon , GCVO CB OBE MC 1971–1973 late Grenadier Guards
Major-General Sir Philip Ward , KCVO CBE 1973–1976 late Welsh Guards
Major-General Sir John Swinton , KCVO OBE 1976–1979 late Scots Guards
Major-General Sir Desmond Langley , KCVO MBE 1979–1983 late The Life Guards
Major-General Sir James Eyre , KCVO CBE 1983–1986 late Royal Horse Guards
Major-General Sir Christopher Airy , KCVO CBE 1986–1989 late Scots Guards
Major-General Sir Simon Cooper , GCVO 1989–1991 late The Life Guards
Major-General Sir Robert Corbett , KCVO CB 1991–1994 late Irish Guards
Major-General Sir Iain Mackay-Dick , KCVO MBE 1994–1997 late Scots Guards
Major-General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter , KCVO OBE 1997–2000 late Grenadier Guards
Major-General Sir Redmond Watt , KCB KCVO CBE 2000–2003 late Welsh Guards
Major-General Sir Sebastian Roberts , KCVO OBE 2003–2007 late Irish Guards
Major-General Sir William Cubitt , KCVO CBE 2007–2011 late Irish Guards 1998–2011 (commissioned into Coldstream Guards, 1977–98)
Major-General Sir George Norton KCVO CBE 2011–2013 late Grenadier Guards[9]
Major-General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne KCVO CBE 2013–2016 late The Life Guards[10]
Major-General Sir Ben Bathurst KCVO CBE 2016–2019 late Welsh Guards[11]
Major General Sir Chris Ghika KCVO CBE 2019–2023 late Irish Guards[12]
Major General James Bowder OBE 2023 – Present late Grenadier Guards[13]