Introduction
The Lord-Lieutenant is The King’s personal representative within Somerset and should be accorded the same etiquette and protocol, as any member of the Royal Family, when he is attending any event in the county in his official capacity.
Where the Lord-Lieutenant is unable to attend he may be represented by his Vice Lord-Lieutenant or a Deputy Lieutenant, where the same etiquette and protocol should be followed.
Correct forms of address for the Lord-Lieutenant
- Written: Mr Mohammed Saddiq, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset.
- Salutation: Dear Lord-Lieutenant or Dear Mr Saddiq.
- In a speech: In the preamble the Lord-Lieutenant should be referred to as “My Lord-Lieutenant”. A speech might begin “Lord-Lieutenant, Ladies and Gentlemen”.
- Conversation: On formal occasions – Lord-Lieutenant, or Mr Saddiq.
If the Lord-Lieutenant is represented by his Vice Lord-Lieutenant or a Deputy Lieutenant, the above etiquette should be adapted accordingly, for example, ‘Dear Vice Lord-Lieutenant’, ‘Dear Deputy Lieutenant’.
A speech might begin “Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Ladies and Gentlemen…” or “Deputy Lieutenant”.
Parking
A space should be reserved for the Lord-Lieutenant’s car (or the nominated Deputy if representing the Lord-Lieutenant) as close as possible to the entrance.
Escort
The Lord-Lieutenant should be met on arrival by the host and escorted from the entrance door to his seat.
Church Services and Seating
At funerals, the Lord-Lieutenant or their 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 their 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 Clerk to The Lieutenancy whose details are on the contacts page of this website.
Uniform
Lieutenancy officers are usually in plain clothes, but on some formal occasions you can recognise The Lord-Lieutenant, Vice Lord-Lieutenant and some Deputy Lieutenants by their uniform which is based on a General Officer in the Army’s No 1 Dress which serves as a symbol of the role’s military origins. Former Armed Forces officers in the Lieutenancy may wear the uniform of their service on formal occasions. You can find out who the Deputies are on our Deputy Lieutenants of Somerset page.
Badges
They may also wear the following badges:
In plain clothes, a male Deputy Lieutenant may wear a neck badge, when representing The Lord-Lieutenant.
In plain clothes female Deputy Lieutenants may wear either a neck badge (as pictured above) or a badge on a Court Bow, when representing the Lord-Lieutenant.