FAQ's
What is the precedence, etiquette and protocol for the Lord-Lieutenant at events?
The Lord-Lieutenant represents His Majesty The King and should be received at any event with the same degree of etiquette and protocol as any member of the Royal Family when the Lord-Lieutenant is attending in an official capacity in her own County. Where the Lord-Lieutenant is unable to attend and she is represented by her Vice Lord-Lieutenant or a Deputy Lieutenant, the same etiquette and protocol should be followed. The Lord-Lieutenant or her deputy should be met on arrival by the host.
The correct form of address for the Lord-Lieutenant is:
Written: Lady Redmond, MBE, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire
Salutation: Dear Lord-Lieutenant
In a speech: In the preamble the Lord-Lieutenant should be referred to as “Lord-Lieutenant”. A speech might begin “Lord-Lieutenant, Ladies and Gentlemen …”
Conversation: On formal occasions – Lord-Lieutenant, or Lady Redmond
If the Lord-Lieutenant is represented by her Vice Lord-Lieutenant or a Deputy Lieutenant, the above etiquette should be adapted accordingly, i.e., ‘Dear Vice Lord-Lieutenant’, ‘Dear Deputy Lieutenant’. A speech might begin “Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Ladies and Gentlemen…” or “Deputy Lieutenant”.
At Church Services and Seating
At Funerals, the Lord-Lieutenant or her representative (unless attending in a personal rather than an official capacity) always enters the church last (two minutes before the start of the service and before the coffin), and always leaves straight after the family. For other church services, the Lord-Lieutenant or her representative enters last and leaves first. The usual arrangement is for the Lord-Lieutenant to be seated at the front of the nave on the south side. For funerals if the family is on the south side, the Lord-Lieutenant sits on the north side at the front and on the aisle edge.
Seating in general
At other functions, the Lord-Lieutenant should be seated in the same place as you would seat a member of the Royal Family: simply as the principal guest. Other issues relating to protocol and precedence can be clarified in consultation with the Lord-Lieutenant.
Please click here for the Check-list of Information required from host organisation for an engagement to be attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire.
What is a High Sheriff and how long do they serve?
Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now largely ceremonial.
Today’s duties include attendance at Royal Visits to the county, escorting High Court Judges on circuit in the county and acting as Returning Officer for parliamentary elections in county constituencies.
The Office of Sheriff is now held for one year. A nomination ceremony is held each November in the Royal Courts of Justice. Three names are put forward for the Office of High Sheriff in each county and one of them is selected by the Sovereign at a subsequent meeting of the Privy Council, when, by ancient custom, the appointed name is “pricked with a bodkin”.
The Office is independent, non-political and unpaid. High Sheriffs have a particular interest in law and order and pay special attention to the work of each statutory bodies as the Police, the Prison Service and the Probation Service. In recent years, the Crimebeat charity has enabled the High Sheriff of Cheshire to play an active role in the reduction and prevention of crime, particularly among young people.
Who is the current High Sheriff of Cheshire?
The High Sheriff of Cheshire for 2024/25 is:
Mrs Clare Hayward MBE, DL
Email: office@highsheriffofcheshire.co.uk
Phone: 07710 482457
Website: www.highsheriffofcheshire.co.uk
