Personal Aide-de-Camp to the King (or Queen) is an appointment in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. It is distinct from that of other aides-de-camp, in that it is only bestowed on members of the British royal family holding military rank. The appointment may be signified by the post-nominal letters 'ADC(P)'.[2] It is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities attached;[3] 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.[4][full citation needed]
The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun by Queen Victoria.[3]
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).[5]
Those in the royal family who currently hold the appointment are:
| Rank | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch Years served |
|---|---|---|
| Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II | ||
| Field Marshal Honorary Air Chief Marshal |
The Duke of Kent (1 August 1966–present)[6] |  British Army1955–1976 |
| Captain (retired) | Mark Phillips (1 January 1974–present)[7] | British Army 1969–1978 |
| Honorary Air Commodore | The Earl of Wessex (later The Duke of Edinburgh) (1 August 2004–present) |  Royal Marines
1986-1987 |
| Vice Admiral | Sir Timothy Laurence (1 August 2004–present) |  Royal Navy1973–2011 |
Lieutenant Commander Major Squadron Leader |
The Duke of Cambridge (later The Prince of Wales) (17 March 2013–present)[8] | Royal Navy 2008
|
| Appointed by King Charles III | ||
Commander Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander |
The Prince of Wales (2023–present)[9] | Royal Navy 2008
|
| Honorary Air Commodore | The Duke of Edinburgh (2023–present)[9] | Royal Marines
1986-1987 |
| Admiral General Air Chief Marshal |
The Princess Royal (2023–present)[10][11] | |
There are other categories of aides-de-camp to the Sovereign; 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.
Those in the royal family who previously held the appointment are:
| Rank | Name and Date of Appointment | Military branch Years served |
|---|---|---|
| Appointed by Queen Victoria | ||
| Field Marshal | The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (26 May 1876 – 16 January 1942) | British Army 1868–1942 |
| Admiral of the Fleet | The Duke of Edinburgh (later The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) (9 December 1882 – 30 July 1900) | Royal Navy August 1858–30 July 1900[12] |
| Major Captain |
Prince Albert Victor of Wales (later The Duke of Clarence and Avondale) (21 June 1887 – 14 January 1892)[13] | Royal Navy British Army 1877–1892 |
| Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet |
Prince George of Wales (later The Duke of York and The Prince of Wales) (21 June 1887 – 6 May 1910) | Royal Navy[14]
|
| Field Marshal | The Duke of Cambridge (1 November 1895 – 17 March 1904) | British Army 3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904[15] |
| Admiral of the Fleet | Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (1 January 1897 – 11 September 1921) | Royal Navy 1868–1914[16] |
| General | Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (14 March 1898 – 28 October 1917) | British Army July 1866–28 October 1917[17] |
| Appointed by King Edward VII | ||
| Field Marshal Admiral of the Fleet |
The Duke of Cornwall and York (later The Prince of Wales) (25 February 1901 – 6 May 1910) | Royal Navy[18]
|
| Admiral of the Fleet | Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (25 February 1901 – 11 September 1921) | Royal Navy 1868–1914[19] |
| Field Marshal | The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1901 – 16 January 1942) | British Army 1868–1942[20] |
| Field Marshal | The Duke of Cambridge (1901 – 17 March 1904) | British Army 3 November 1837 – 17 March 1904[21] |
| General | Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1901 – 28 October 1917) | British Army July 1866–28 October 1917[22] |
| Major General | Prince Arthur of Connaught (30 June 1905 – 12 September 1938) | British Army 1901–1922[23] |
| Appointed by King George V | ||
| Field Marshal | The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (3 June 1910 – 16 January 1942) | British Army 1868–1942[24] |
| Major General | Prince Arthur of Connaught (3 June 1910 – 12 September 1938) | British Army 1901–1922[25] |
| Admiral of the Fleet | Prince Louis of Battenberg (later The Marquess of Milford Haven) (3 June 1910 – 11 September 1921) | Royal Navy 1868–1914[26] |
| General | Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (3 June 1910 – 28 October 1917) | British Army July 1866–28 October 1917[27] |
| Lieutenant Colonel | The Duke of Teck (later The Marquess of Cambridge) (3 June 1910 – 24 October 1927)[28] | British Army 1888–1919 |
| Major General | Prince Alexander of Teck (later The Earl of Athlone) (3 June 1910 – 16 January 1957) | British Army 1894–1931[29] |
| Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
The Prince of Wales (3 June 1919 – 20 January 1936) The Duke of Windsor (11 December 1936 – 28 May 1972) |
Royal Navy British Army 1910–1919[30] |
| Admiral General Air Chief Marshal |
The Prince Albert (later The Duke of York) (3 June 1919 – 11 December 1936) | Royal Navy Royal Air Force1913–1919[30] |
| Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
The Duke of Gloucester (2 August 1929 – 10 June 1974) | British Army 1919–1937[31] |
| Rear Admiral Major General Air Commodore |
The Prince George (later The Duke of Kent) (19 July 1932 – 25 August 1942) | Royal Navy Royal Air Force 1916–1942[32] |
| Appointed by King Edward VIII | ||
| Field Marshal | The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 May 1936 – 16 January 1942) | British Army 1868–1942[33] |
| Admiral of the Fleet | Lord Louis Mountbatten (later The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and The Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (23 June 1936 – 27 August 1979)[34] | Royal Navy 1916–1965 |
| Admiral General Air Chief Marshal |
The Duke of York (23 June 1936 – 11 December 1936) | Royal Navy Royal Air Force 1913–1919[34] |
| Rear Admiral Major General Air Commodore |
The Duke of Kent (23 June 1936 – 25 August 1942) | Royal Navy Royal Air Force 1916–1942[34] |
| Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
The Duke of Gloucester (23 June 1936 – 10 June 1974) | British Army 1919–1937[35] |
| Major General | Prince Arthur of Connaught (23 June 1936 – 12 September 1938) | British Army 1901–1922[36] |
| Major General | The Earl of Athlone (23 June 1936 – 16 January 1957) | British Army 1894–1931[37] |
| Colonel | The Earl of Harewood (23 June 1936 – 24 May 1947) | British Army 12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947[38] |
| Appointed by King George VI | ||
| Admiral of the Fleet | The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma (later The Earl Mountbatten of Burma) (29 January 1937 – 27 August 1979)[39] | Royal Navy 1916–1965 |
| Rear Admiral Major General Air Commodore |
The Duke of Kent (1 February 1937 – 25 August 1942) | Royal Navy Royal Air Force 1916–1942[40] |
| Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
The Duke of Gloucester (1 February 1937 – 10 June 1974) | British Army 1919–1937[41] |
| Field Marshal | The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1 February 1937 – 16 January 1942) | British Army[42]
|
| Major General | Prince Arthur of Connaught (1 February 1937 – 12 September 1938) | British Army 1901–1922[43] |
| Major General | The Earl of Athlone (1 February 1937 – 16 January 1957) | British Army 1894–1931[44] |
| Colonel | The Earl of Harewood (1 February 1937 – 24 May 1947) | British Army 12 February 1902 – 24 May 1947[45] |
| Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force Captain General Royal Marines |
The Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1948 – 9 April 2021)[46] | Royal Navy 1939–1952 |
| Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II | ||
| Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
The Duke of Gloucester (10 March 1953 – 10 June 1974) | British Army 1919–1937[47] |
| Major General | The Earl of Athlone (10 March 1953 – 16 January 1957) | British Army 1894–1931[48] |
| Admiral of the Fleet | The Earl Mountbatten of Burma (10 March 1953 – 27 August 1979)[39][49] | Royal Navy 1916–1965 |
| Admiral of the Fleet Field Marshal Marshal of the Royal Air Force |
The Prince of Wales (6 December 1973 – 8 September 2022)[50] | Royal Navy 1971–1977 Royal Air Force1971–1977 |
| Vice Admiral | The Prince Andrew (later The Duke of York) (1 February 1984 – 13 January 2022)[51][52] | Royal Navy 1978–2001 |
| Major Lieutenant Commander Squadron Leader |
The Duke of Sussex (13 October 2018 – 19 February 2021)[53] | British Army 2005–2015 |