The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen (or Financial Secretary to the King/Queen) is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the

Sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. The officeholder is assisted by the Deputy Treasurer to the King/Queen for the management of the

Sovereign Grant The Sovereign Grant Act 2011 (c. 15) is the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which introduced the Sovereign Grant, the payment which is paid annually to the monarch by the government in order to fund the monarch's official duties. It ...

, currently Sally O'Neill (formerly Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Opera House). The officeholder is also assisted by the Deputy Keeper of the Privy Purse for semi-private concerns, such as racing stables, the

Royal Philatelic Collection The Royal Philatelic Collection is the postage stamp collection of the British royal family. It is the most comprehensive collection of items related to the philately of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth, with many unique pieces. ...

Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced , often pronounced ) is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races and ...

, the

Chapel Royal The Chapel Royal is an establishment in the Royal Household serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the British Royal Family. Historically it was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarch. The term is now also applie ...

, the

Page of Honour A Page of Honour is a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It requires attendance on state occasions, but does not now involve the daily duties which were once attached to the office of page. The onl ...

Military Knights of Windsor The Military Knights of Windsor, originally the Alms Knights and informally the Poor Knights, are retired military officers who receive a pension and accommodation at Windsor Castle, and who provide support for the Order of the Garter and for the ...

Royal Maundy Royal Maundy is a religious service in the Church of England held on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. At the service, the British monarch or a royal official ceremonially distributes small silver coins known as "Maundy money" (legal ...

, the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, o ...

grace and favour ''Grace & Favour'' (American title: ''Are You Being Served? Again!'') is a British sitcom and a spin-off of ''Are You Being Served?'' that aired on BBC1 for two series from 1992 to 1993. It was written by ''Are You Being Served?'' creators and ...

apartments, and the

Duchy of Lancaster The Duchy of Lancaster is the private estate of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British sovereign as Duke of Lancaster. The principal purpose of the estate is to provide a source of independent income to the sovereign. The estate consists of ...

. These are funded from the

Privy Purse The Privy Purse is the British Sovereign's private income, mostly from the Duchy of Lancaster. This amounted to £20.1 million in net income for the year to 31 March 2018. Overview The Duchy is a landed estate of approximately 46,000 acres (200 ...

, which is drawn largely from the Duchy of Lancaster and the

Duchy of Cornwall The Duchy of Cornwall ( kw, Duketh Kernow) is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch obtains possession of the duchy and the title of 'Duke of Cornwall' at ...

. The Keeper of the Privy Purse meets the Sovereign at least weekly. Among the duties is the allocation of grace and favour apartments at the royal palaces. The current Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King is Sir Michael Stevens. At coronations in recent centuries, the holders of this office have invariably carried a ceremonial purse, embroidered with the royal coat of arms.

List of Keepers of the Privy Purse

Henry VIII

* Henry Norris by 1526–?1536 (executed 1536) *

Anthony Denny Sir Anthony Denny (16 January 1501 – 10 September 1549) was Groom of the Stool to King Henry VIII of England, thus his closest courtier and confidant. He was the most prominent member of the Privy chamber in King Henry's last years, having ...

c. 1536

Edward VI

* Peter Osborne 1551–1552

Elizabeth I

John Tamworth John Tamworth (died 1569) was an English courtier, Member of Parliament (1563), and ambassador to Scotland. Career He was a son of Thomas Tamworth and Elizabeth Denkaring. The surname is sometimes spelled "Tomworth" or "Thomworth". He seems to ha ...

, 1559–1569 *Henry Seckford 1559–1603

James I

Sir Richard Molyneux, 1st Baronet Sir Richard Molyneux, 1st Baronet (1560–1622) was a member of parliament for Lancashire, Mayor of Liverpool and Receiver-General of the Duchy of Lancaster. Life Molyneux was the son of William Molyneux and his wife Bridget Caryll. His grandfat ...

, 1607–? *

George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar, KG, PC (ca. 155620 January 1611) was, in the last decade of his life, the most prominent and most influential Scotsman in England. His work lay in the King's Household and in the control of the State Affairs of ...

, c. 1610–1611 *

John Murray, 1st Earl of Annandale John Murray, 1st Earl of Annandale (died 1640) was a Scottish courtier and Member of Parliament. Career He was known as John Murray of Lochmaben or Lincluden Lincluden Collegiate Church, known earlier as Lincluden Priory or Lincluden Abbey ...

1611–1616

Charles I

Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux (1594–1636) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1629. Biography Molyneux was the son of Sir Richard Molyneux, 1st Baronet of Sefton and his wife F ...

, PC 1616?–1636 * Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Ancram, PC 1636?–1639

Charles II

Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington, KG, PC (1618 – 28 July 1685) was an English statesman. Background and early life He was the son of Sir John Bennet of Dawley, Middlesex, by Dorothy, daughter of Sir John Crofts of Little Saxham, Suff ...

, KG, PC (1661–1662) *

Charles Berkeley, 1st Earl of Falmouth Charles Berkeley, 1st Earl of Falmouth (11 January 1630 – 3 June 1665) was an English nobleman and naval officer who was the son of Charles Berkeley (1599–1668) and his wife Penelope née Godolphin (died 1669), of the Bruton branch of the ...

, PC 1662–1665 *

Baptist May Baptist May (1628–1698) was a Royal courtier during the reign of Charles II of England. He is said to have been Charles's closest and most trusted servant, largely as a result of his knowledge that the king did not like to be approached on mat ...

1665–1685

James II

* James Graham, 1685–1689

William III

William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland Hans William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, (20 July 164923 November 1709) was a Dutch and English nobleman who became in an early stage the favourite of William, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder in the Netherlands, and future King of England. H ...

, KG, PC 1689–1700 *Caspar Frederick Henning, 1700–1702

Anne

Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, Princess of Mindelheim, Countess of Nellenburg (née Jenyns, spelt Jennings in most modern references; 5 June 1660 (Old Style) – 18 October 1744), was an English courtier who rose to be one of th ...

1702–1711 *

Abigail Masham, Baroness Masham Abigail Masham, Baroness Masham (née Hill; 6 December 1734), was an English courtier. She was a favourite of Queen Anne, and a cousin of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. Life Early life Abigail Hill was the daughter of Francis Hill, a London m ...

1711–1714

George I

*Caspar Frederick Henning, 1714–1727

George II

* Augustus Schutz, 1727–1757 *

The Honourable ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...

Edward Finch, 1757–1760

George III

John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, (; 25 May 1713 – 10 March 1792), styled Lord Mount Stuart between 1713 and 1723, was a British nobleman who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762 to 1763 under George III. He was arguabl ...

, KG, PC 1760–1763 * William Breton, 1763–1773 *

James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan (20 April 1725 – 24 February 1811), styled The Honourable James Brudenell until 1780 and known as The Lord Brudenell between 1780 and 1790, was a British courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commo ...

, PC 1773–1811 *

The Right Honourable ''The Right Honourable'' ( abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The term is ...

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Sir John McMahon, 1st Baronet Colonel Sir John McMahon, 1st Baronet (c. 1754 – 12 September 1817) was an Irish-born politician and Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1811–1817. Biography He was born in Limerick, son of John MacMahon, comptroller of the port of Lime ...

, 1812–1817 *

Lieutenant-General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield Lieutenant General Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield (13 April 1768 – 15 August 1846) was a British Army officer who saw action at the Battle of Vinegar Hill in June 1798 during the Irish Rebellion. He was Member of Parliament (MP) f ...

, GCB GCH PC 1817–1822

George IV

Sir William Knighton, 1st Baronet, GCH 1821–1830

William IV

Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Sir Henry Wheatley, 1st Baronet, GCH, CB 1830–1846

Victoria

George Edward Anson George Edward Anson (14 May 1812 – 8 October 1849) was a British courtier and politician from the Anson family. Anson was the son of the Very Reverend Frederick Anson (1779–1867), Dean of Chester, son of George Anson and the Honourable ...

1847–1849 *

Sir Charles Beaumont Phipps KCB 1849–1866 *

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

Sir Charles Grey 1866–1867 (''jointly'') *

Thomas Myddleton-Biddulph Sir Thomas Myddelton Biddulph (29 July 1809 – 28 September 1878) was an officer in the British Army and courtier. Early life Thomas was born on 29 July 1809. He was the second son of Charlotte Myddelton and Robert Myddelton Biddulph (1761–1 ...

KCB 1866–1878 (''jointly to 1867'') *

Sir Henry Ponsonby GCB 1878–1895 *

Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...

Sir Fleetwood Edwards

GCVO The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, or ...

, KCB,

ISO ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization. ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance * Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007 * Iso ...

1895–1901

Edward VII

Sir Dighton Probyn, VC, GCB,

GCSI The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes: # Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI) # ...

1901–1910

George V

Sir William Carington

KCB JP 1910–1914 *

Frederick Ponsonby, 1st Baron Sysonby Frederick Edward Grey Ponsonby, 1st Baron Sysonby, (16 September 1867 – 20 October 1935) was a British soldier and courtier. Background Known as Fritz, Ponsonby was the second of three sons of General Sir Henry Ponsonby and his wife the Hon. ...

GCB

PC 1914–1935 *

Clive Wigram, 1st Baron Wigram Clive Wigram, 1st Baron Wigram, (5 July 1873 – 3 September 1960) was a British Indian Army officer and courtier. He was Private Secretary to the Sovereign from 1931 to 1936. Parentage and education Wigram was the son of Herbert Wigram. His ...

GCB

CSI PC 1935–1936

George VI

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

Sir Ulick Alexander 19361952

Elizabeth II

Brigadier-General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Charles George Vivian Tryon, 2nd Baron Tryon __NOTOC__ Brigadier (United Kingdom), Brigadier Charles George Vivian Tryon, 2nd Baron Tryon, (24 May 1906 – 9 November 1976) was a Peerage, British peer, British Army officer, and a member of the Royal Household. Early life and military caree ...

, KCB, DSO, DL,

OStJ The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British royal order of c ...

1952–1971 *

Sir Rennie Maudslay,

KCB

MBE Mbe may refer to: * Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo * Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria * Mbe language, a language of Nigeria * Mbe' language, language of Cameroon * ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language Molal ...

1971–1981 * Sir Peter Miles, KCVO 1981–1987 *

Sir Shane Blewitt,

1988–1996 *

Sir Michael Peat Sir Michael Charles Gerrard Peat (born 16 November 1949) is an English retired accountant and courtier. He was the Principal Private Secretary to Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall between 2002 and 2011. Life and career P ...

1996–2002 * Sir Alan Reid, GCVO 2002–2017 * Sir Michael Stevens KCVO 2018–2022

Charles III

* Sir Michael Stevens KCVO 2022–present

Deputies

Deputy Keepers

''This list is not complete''. * 1922–1925: Paymaster Rear-Admiral Sir

John Henry George Chapple Paymaster Rear-Admiral Sir John Henry George Chapple, KCB, CVO (4 December 1859 – 5 March 1925) was a Royal Navy officer and courtier. He was the Royal Navy's first Paymaster Director-General, as well as the first paymaster to (retroactively) r ...

, KCB, CVO, RN * 1985–1988: Major Sir Shane Gabriel Basil Blewitt, GCVO * 1988–2002: Sir John Christopher Parsons, KCVO, FCA, FIC * 2002–?: Harold Smith * ?–2011: Ian Donald McGregor, CVO * 2011–2017: Sir Michael John Stevens, KCVO * 2017-present: Sally O'Neill

Deputy Treasurers

* 1923–1935: Sir

Ralph Endersby Harwood Sir Ralph Endersby Harwood (28 March 1883 – 28 February 1951) was Financial Secretary to George V, Edward VIII and George VI. Early life Harwood was born on 28 March 1883, the son of Charles Harwood of Shefford, Bedfordshire. He was educate ...

, KCB, KCVO, CBE * 1941–1958: Commander Sir

Dudley Colles Commander Sir Ernest Dudley Gordon Colles (5 April 1889 – 13 July 1976) was an Irish Royal Navy officer and courtier, who served in the Royal Households of George VI and Elizabeth II. Colles was educated at Winchester College and was commis ...

, KCB, KCVO, OBE, RN * 1958–1968: Commander Sir

Philip John Row Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philip ...

, KCVO, OBE, RN * 1969–1985: Sir

Russell Dillon Wood Russell may refer to: People * Russell (given name) * Russell (surname) * Lady Russell (disambiguation) * Lord Russell (disambiguation) Places Australia *Russell, Australian Capital Territory *Russell Island, Queensland (disambiguation) **Rus ...

, KCVO, VRD * 1988–2002: Sir John Christopher Parsons, KCVO, FCA, FIC * 2003–2007: Stephen Ingleby Cawley, CVO, FCA * 2007–2017: Sir Michael John Stevens, KCVO * 2017-present: Sally O'Neill

References

* * * {{British Monarchy Household Positions within the British Royal Household Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom

List of Keepers of the Privy Purse

Henry VIII

Edward VI

Elizabeth I

James I

Charles I

Charles II

James II

William III

Anne

George I

George II

George III

George IV

William IV

Victoria

Edward VII

George V

George VI

Elizabeth II

Charles III

Deputies

Deputy Keepers

Deputy Treasurers

See also

References