Blair Stewart-Wilson
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Blair Aubyn Stewart-Wilson, KCVO (17 July 1929 – 24 May 2011) was Equerry
to Her Majesty The Queen
and Deputy Master of the Household
in the Royal Household
from 1976 to 1994.
to Aubyn Harold Raymond Wilson (a member of a cadet branch of the Royal House of Stuart
), and his wife, Muriel Athelstan Hood Stewart-Stevens, 10th of Balnakeilly, Stewart-Wilson was educated at Eton College
.
.
on 14 July 1949, three days before his 20th birthday, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Atholl Highlanders
(the Duke of Atholl's private regiment) in 1952. He served in the United Kingdom, the British Army of the Rhine
(BAOR), and the Far East
. From 1955 to 1957, he was adjutant
of the 2nd Battalion
of the Scots Guards
, and Aide-de-Camp
to the Governor-General
of New Zealand 1957-1959, Viscount Cobham
. In 1960-1962 he was Equerry
to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester
. He was regimental adjutant 1966 to 1968. He was staff qualified, but did not attend the Staff College, Camberley
.
Stewart-Wilson was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and was a General Staff Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) in the foreign liaison section (Army) 1970 to 1973, and Defence Military and Air Attaché
in Vienna
, 1975-1976. In 1976 he joined The Queen's Household
. He retired from active military service on 17 July 1984. In his later years he was a supernumerary list officer.
From 1994 until his death he served as Extra Equerry
to Her Majesty The Queen
.
He was HM's Representative Trustee on the Board of the Royal Armouries
, from 1995 to 2004, and has served as the Somerset
County Patron for the charity Cancer Research UK
from 1997 to date.
, the Campaign Service Medal, Borneo
and Malaya
bars, and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
(1953).
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) 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 upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to Her Majesty The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and Deputy Master of the Household
Master of the Household
The Master of the Household is the operational head of the "below stairs" elements of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom...
in the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
from 1976 to 1994.
Biography
Born Blair Aubyn Wilson in ChelseaChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
to Aubyn Harold Raymond Wilson (a member of a cadet branch of the Royal House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
), and his wife, Muriel Athelstan Hood Stewart-Stevens, 10th of Balnakeilly, Stewart-Wilson was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
Family
In 1962, he married Helen Mary Fox; the couple had three daughters, including actress Belinda Stewart-WilsonBelinda Stewart-Wilson
Belinda Stewart-Wilson is an English actress, best known for her role in the TV sitcom The Inbetweeners as Polly McKenzie.-Early life:The daughter of Sir Blair Stewart-Wilson, a British Army officer, Stewart-Wilson grew up on military postings in the UK, Germany, and Austria before her family...
.
Career
He joined the Scots GuardsScots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
on 14 July 1949, three days before his 20th birthday, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Atholl Highlanders
Atholl Highlanders
The Atholl Highlanders is a Scottish infantry regiment. Based in Blair Atholl, the regiment is not part of the British Army. Instead, the regiment is in the private employ of the Duke of Atholl, making it the United Kingdom's, and indeed Europe's, only legal private army.-77th Foot:The name Atholl...
(the Duke of Atholl's private regiment) in 1952. He served in the United Kingdom, the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
(BAOR), and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. From 1955 to 1957, he was adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the 2nd Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
, and Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of New Zealand 1957-1959, Viscount Cobham
Viscount Cobham
Viscount Cobham is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1718 for Field Marshal Richard Temple, 1st Baron Cobham and 4th Baronet, of Stowe...
. In 1960-1962 he was Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) 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 upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Gloucester is a British royal title , often conferred on one of the sons of the reigning monarch. The first four creations were in the Peerage of England, the next in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the last in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; this current creation carries with it the...
. He was regimental adjutant 1966 to 1968. He was staff qualified, but did not attend the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
.
Stewart-Wilson was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and was a General Staff Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) in the foreign liaison section (Army) 1970 to 1973, and Defence Military and Air Attaché
Air attaché
An air attaché is an Air Force officer who is part of a diplomatic mission; this post is normally filled by a high-ranking officer.An air attaché typically represents the chief of his home air force in the foreign country where he serves. The day-to-day responsibilities include maintaining contacts...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, 1975-1976. In 1976 he joined The Queen's Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
. He retired from active military service on 17 July 1984. In his later years he was a supernumerary list officer.
From 1994 until his death he served as Extra Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) 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 upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to Her Majesty The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
He was HM's Representative Trustee on the Board of the Royal Armouries
Royal Armouries
The Royal Armouries is the United Kingdom's National Museum of Arms and Armour. It is the United Kingdom's oldest museum, and one of the oldest museums in the world. It is also one of the largest collections of arms and armour in the world, comprising the UK's National Collection of Arms and...
, from 1995 to 2004, and has served as the Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
County Patron for the charity Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
from 1997 to date.
Honours
He was made a LVO in 1983, a CVO in 1989 and a KCVO in 1994. He received the General Service MedalGeneral Service Medal
The General Service Medal can refer to any one of the following medals:* General Service Medal * General Service Medal * General Service Medal * General Service Medal * New Zealand General Service Medal 1992...
, the Campaign Service Medal, Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
and Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
bars, and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
(1953).