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Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber

List of assistants to the monarch From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gentleman of the Bedchamber was a title in the Royal Household, found in the Kingdom of Scotland from the 16th century and in the Kingdom of England from the early 17th century (having been introduced, in both places, by James VI and I); the title continued to be used in the Kingdom of Great Britain. A Lord of the Bedchamber was a courtier in the Royal Household, the term being first used in 1718.[1] The duties of the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber originally consisted of assisting the monarch with dressing, waiting on him when he ate, guarding access to his bedchamber and closet, and providing companionship. Such practical functions became less important over time, but the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber continued to control access to the monarch; they were thus trusted confidants and often extremely powerful. The offices were in the gift of The Crown and were originally sworn by Royal Warrant directed to the Lord Chamberlain.[citation needed]

Origins

Following the abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1567, her one year-old son acceded to the throne of Scotland as King James VI. During his minority, a series of regents held power, with government largely exercised through the Privy Council of Scotland. The king grew up in the company of young nobles, in Stirling Castle, until 1579 when, at 13 years old, he made a ceremonial entry into Edinburgh; this signalled the end of the Regency period and the beginning of his adult rule. The Privy Council, however, was still dominated by protegés of the former regent, the Earl of Morton; so, on 15 April 1580, a new establishment was created with the intention of it forming an alternative centre of power to the Privy Council.[2] Taking inspiration from the French court, it was named the 'Bedchamber'. It had a staff of 24 young Gentlemen, overseen by Esmé Stewart in the office of Lord Chamberlain. The Gentlemen, who were invariably sons of nobles and of barons, did duty in rotation for three months at a time. Throughout the year there were always at least four Gentlemen of the Bedchamber in attendance at the Scottish royal court.

On acceding to the throne of England, king James introduced the Bedchamber to the English court. Once in place, it quickly supplanted the Privy Chamber (its erstwhile Tudor equivalent) in importance and influence. It maintained a decidedly Scottish entourage around the king to begin with: numbered among the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber was only a single Englishman until 1615, when a second was appointed; in all, ten of the fifteen Gentlemen appointed by James I were Scots.[2]

Description and functions

There were always several holders of the office, who were invariably gentlemen and almost invariably peers, often important ones, as the regular access to the monarch which the role brought was the most valuable commodity of the courtier.[3] The duties of the office involved waiting on the King when he ate in private, helping him to dress, guarding the bedchamber and closet, and providing companionship.[3]

After the Restoration, the office of first gentleman of the bedchamber was invariably combined with that of Groom of the Stole.[3] On average the number of Gentlemen varied around 12 but fluctuated from time to time. During the reign of James II there were only eight, and none were appointed during the reign of Queen Anne. The female counterparts to the Gentlemen (or Lords) of the Bedchamber were the Ladies of the Bedchamber (appointed by Queens regnant and consort alike). Working under the Gentlemen, in the same location, were the Grooms of the Bedchamber.

Below is an incomplete list of noblemen who have served as Gentlemen of the Bedchamber or Lords of the Bedchamber:

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to James I of England (1603–1625)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Charles I of England (1625–1649)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Charles II of England (1660–1685)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to James II of England (1685–1688)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to William III of England (1689–1702)

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark (1702–1708)

Gentlemen and Lords of the Bedchamber to George I of Great Britain (1714–1727)

Lord

Gentlemen

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to George II of Great Britain (1714–1760)

Lords

Gentlemen

Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to Frederick, Prince of Wales (1729–1751)

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to George III of the United Kingdom (1751–1820)

Lords

Gentlemen

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to George IV of the United Kingdom (1780–1830)

Lord

Gentlemen

Lords and Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to William IV of the United Kingdom (1830–1837)

Lords of the Bedchamber to King William IV (1830–1837)

Gentlemen

Lords of the Bedchamber to Prince Albert (1840–1861)

Lords of the Bedchamber to Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII (1866–1901)

Following Edward's accession to the throne, Baron Suffield was gazetted as a "Lord in Waiting" to the King.

Lords of the Bedchamber to George, Prince of Wales (1901–1910), later King George V (1910-1936)

Following George's accession to the throne, Baron Annaly was initially gazetted as "Lord of the Bedchamber in Waiting" to the king;[37] but was subsequently referred to as "Lord in Waiting", or "Permanent Lord in Waiting", to His Majesty.[38]

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