Groom of the Robes is an office in 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 England (later Great Britain, ultimately 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 ...

). In 1953, the Groom of the Robes to Elizabeth II had the task of bringing forward the robes and other items of ceremonial clothing worn by the monarch at various points in the coronation service, ready to hand them over to the

Mistress of the Robes The mistress of the robes was the senior lady in the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. Formerly responsible for the queen consort's/regnant's clothes and jewellery (as the name implies), the post had the responsibility for arranging the rota o ...

and the

Lord Great Chamberlain The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable of England, Lord Hi ...

(who assisted The Queen in putting them on) and to receive and remove those which were no longer required. Although the post has remained unfilled since 1954, an

Equerry An equerry (; from French ' stable', and related to 'squire') is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually up ...

is usually designated 'Acting Groom of the Robes' on occasions (such as the

State Opening of Parliament The State Opening of Parliament is a ceremonial event which formally marks the beginning of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It includes a speech from the throne known as the King's (or Queen's) Speech. The event takes place ...

) when robes are worn.

List of Grooms of the Robes

''(incomplete)'' * Thomas Purcell * Piers Curteys * John Hart

Henry VIII

* Richard Cecil 1530 *

John Copinger John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

William Sharington Sir William Sharington (born in around 1495, died before 6 July 1553) was an English courtier of the time of Henry VIII, master and embezzler of the Bristol Mint, member of parliament, conspirator, and High Sheriff of Wiltshire. Early life S ...

1540–1541 *

Thomas Sternhold Thomas Sternhold (1500–1549) was an English courtier and the principal author of the first English metrical version of the Psalms, originally attached to the Prayer-Book as augmented by John Hopkins. Life Anthony Wood says that Sternhold ...

1500–1549 * Gates, Sir John

Edward VI

* Robert Robotham

Victoria

* Francis Seymour 1837-1870 . * Henry Erskine 1870–1901

Edward VII

* Henry Erskine 1901–1910

George V

* Henry Erskine 1910–1920 * Montague Eliot 1920-1936

George VI

* Sir Harold Campbell 1937-1952

Elizabeth II

* Sir Harold Campbell 1952-1954

References

{{British Monarchy Household Court titles Positions within the British Royal Household