The Right Honourable
The Earl of Rosslyn
CVO QPM
Arms of the Earl of Rosslyn
Lord Steward of the Household
Assumed office
22 February 2023
MonarchCharles III
Preceded byThe Earl of Dalhousie
Member of the House of Lords
as a hereditary peer
17 December 1979 – 11 November 1999
Preceded byThe 6th Earl of Rosslyn
Succeeded bySeat abolished
as an elected hereditary peer
11 November 1999
Election1999
Preceded bySeat established
Personal details
Born
Peter St Clair-Erskine

(1958-03-31) 31 March 1958 (age 66)
NationalityBritish
Political partyCrossbencher
Spouse
Helen Watters
​
(m. 1982)​
ChildrenJames St Clair-Erskine, Lord Loughborough
Lady Alice St Clair-Erskine
The Hon. Harry St Clair-Erskine
Lady Lucia St Clair-Erskine
Parent(s)Anthony St Clair-Erskine, 6th Earl of Rosslyn
Athenais de Mortemart
OccupationCourtier, police officer

Peter St Clair-Erskine, 7th Earl of Rosslyn, CVO KPM (born 31 March 1958), known professionally as Peter Loughborough, is a Scottish peer and police officer. He is Lord Steward of the Royal Household and Personal Secretary to Their Majesties, as well as a former Metropolitan Police Commander. The Earl's lands include Rosslyn Chapel.

Background and education

Lord Rosslyn was educated at Ludgrove School, Eton College and the University of Bristol.[1][2] He inherited his titles in 1977, and took his seat in the House of Lords on 15 January 1980.[3] Ahead of the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999 which excluded most hereditary peers he was elected as one of the 28 peers in the Crossbench group who were to remain in the House of Lords.[4]

As of 2022, in 43 years in the House of Lords he had only spoken once and voted five times, each in relation to reform of the Lords.[5]

Career

Rosslyn joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1980 on the recommendation of his third cousin Lord Strathnaver,[2] a former detective and heir apparent of the 24th Countess of Sutherland. He reached the rank of chief inspector in the 1990s. In 1994 he led the undercover Operation Troodos, a successful crackdown on drug dealers in west London, including the drug supplier of the Marquess of Blandford, later Duke of Marlborough.[6] From 2003 to 2014, he was head of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department (since amalgamated into Protection Command). He received the King's Police Medal (then the Queen's Police Medal) in the 2009 New Year Honours and was reputedly the Queen's "favourite policeman".[7]

In March 2014, Lord Rosslyn was appointed as Master of the Household to The Prince of Wales, and The Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House.[2]

On 29 September 2014, Lord Rosslyn was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) upon relinquishing his appointment as Head of Royalty and Specialist Protection Department.[8]

On 22 February 2023, he was appointed Lord Steward of the Household, succeeding the 17th Earl of Dalhousie, and Personal Secretary to Their Majesties by Charles III.[9] In this role, he took part in the 2023 Coronation.[10]

Family

He married Helen Watters in 1982 and they have two sons and two daughters, including actress Lady Alice St Clair-Erskine.[11]

Lady Rosslyn runs the London Original Print Fair.[12]

Honours


Ribbon Description Notes
Royal Victorian Order (CVO)
  • Commander
  • 29 September 2014
King’s Police Medal (KPM)
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  • 2002
  • UK Version of this Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
  • UK Version of this Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
  • 2022
  • UK Version of this Medal
King Charles III Coronation Medal
  • 2023
  • UK Version of this Medal
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

References

  1. ^ Barber, Richard (2004). The Story of Ludgrove. Oxford: Guidon Publishing. p. 259. ISBN 0-9543617-2-5.
  2. ^ a b c "Charles and Camilla appoint police chief to Household". The Daily Telegraph. 1 April 2014.
  3. ^ HL Deb (15 January 1980) vol. 404, col. 1.
  4. ^ Dod's Parliamentary Companion 2000. Westminster: Vacher Dod Publishing Ltd. 2000. p. 361.
  5. ^ "Evgeny Lebedev's 1% attendance makes him among least active in House of Lords". The Guardian. 20 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Old Etonian earl in charge of royal protection likely to be centre of inquiry". The Guardian. 24 June 2003.
  7. ^ "No. 58929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2008. p. 25.
  8. ^ "No. 61020". The London Gazette. 15 October 2014. p. 19954.
  9. ^ "Court Circular: February 22, 2023". The Times. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  11. ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (2010). Dod's Parliamentary Companion. Vol. 178. Dod's Parliamentary Companion Ltd. p. 845. ISBN 978-0-905702-89-6.
  12. ^ "Among friends: Inside the new King and Queen Consort's inner circle". Tatler. Retrieved 15 October 2022.

External links

Court offices Preceded byThe Earl of Dalhousie Lord Steward 2023–present Incumbent Peerage of the United Kingdom Preceded byAnthony St Clair-Erskine Earl of Rosslyn 1977–present Member of the House of Lords(1977–1999) Incumbent Parliament of the United Kingdom New officecreated by the House of Lords Act 1999 Elected hereditary peer to the House of Lordsunder the House of Lords Act 1999 1999–present Incumbent Order of precedence in England and Wales Preceded byThe Duke of Norfolkas Earl Marshal Gentlemenas Lord Stewardof the Household Succeeded byThe Lord Parker of Minsmereas Lord Chamberlainof the Household Order of precedence in Scotland Preceded byThe Earl of Caledon Gentlemen Succeeded byThe Earl of Craven Order of precedence in Northern Ireland Preceded byThe Duke of Norfolkas Earl Marshal Gentlemenas Lord Stewardof the Household Succeeded byThe Lord Parker of Minsmereas Lord Chamberlainof the Household


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