Deputy Lieutenant
Encyclopedia
In the United Kingdom
, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant
of a lieutenancy area
; an English ceremonial county
, Welsh preserved county
, Scottish lieutenancy area
, or Northern Irish county borough
or county
.
In titles, the postnominal letters DL may be added; e.g. John Brown, CBE, DL. However, it is generally omitted if the subject has many honours and titles. The relevant Act of Parliament is the Lieutenancies Act 1997
. Deputy lieutenants are chosen by the local Lord-Lieutenant, to assist them with any of their duties as may be required. They receive their commission only when the appropriate Minister communicates that Her Majesty The Queen
does not disapprove of the appointment. In England and Wales, since November 2001, the appropriate Minister is the Lord Chancellor
. In Scotland, since July 1999 it has been the Scottish Ministers.
The maximum number of Deputy Lieutenants allowed in a county may be several dozen, and is related to the population of that county. DLs tend to be people who either have served the local community, or have a history of service in other fields. They may represent the Lord-Lieutenant in his (or her) absence. This would include local ceremonies and official events, from opening exhibitions to inductions of vicars.
DLs must live within the county, or within seven miles (11 km) of the boundary. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the Lord-Lieutenant. They usually retire at age 75.
One of the serving Deputy Lieutenants is appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant, and under most circumstances will stand in for the Lord Lieutenant when he or she cannot be present. The appointment as Vice Lord-Lieutenant does, however, end when the Lord-Lieutenant who made the appointment leaves his/her post.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
of a lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a Lord Lieutenant - the representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily conterminate with, the counties of the United Kingdom.-Origin:In England,...
; an English ceremonial county
Ceremonial counties of England
The ceremonial counties are areas of England to which are appointed a Lord Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as counties and areas for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England and Lieutenancies Act 1997...
, Welsh preserved county
Preserved counties of Wales
The preserved counties of Wales are the current areas used in Wales for the ceremonial purposes of Lieutenancy and Shrievalty. They are based on the counties created by the Local Government Act 1972 and used for local government and other purposes between 1974 and 1996.-Usage:The Local Government ...
, Scottish lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
The lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants, the monarch's representatives, in Scotland. They are different from the local government council areas, the committee areas, the sheriffdoms, the registration counties, the former regions and districts, the...
, or Northern Irish county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
or county
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
.
In titles, the postnominal letters DL may be added; e.g. John Brown, CBE, DL. However, it is generally omitted if the subject has many honours and titles. The relevant Act of Parliament is the Lieutenancies Act 1997
Lieutenancies Act 1997
The Lieutenancies Act 1997 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, that defines areas that Lord-Lieutenants are appointed to in Great Britain. It came into force on July 1, 1997.-Creation of modern local government:...
. Deputy lieutenants are chosen by the local Lord-Lieutenant, to assist them with any of their duties as may be required. They receive their commission only when the appropriate Minister communicates that 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,...
does not disapprove of the appointment. In England and Wales, since November 2001, the appropriate Minister is the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
. In Scotland, since July 1999 it has been the Scottish Ministers.
The maximum number of Deputy Lieutenants allowed in a county may be several dozen, and is related to the population of that county. DLs tend to be people who either have served the local community, or have a history of service in other fields. They may represent the Lord-Lieutenant in his (or her) absence. This would include local ceremonies and official events, from opening exhibitions to inductions of vicars.
DLs must live within the county, or within seven miles (11 km) of the boundary. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the Lord-Lieutenant. They usually retire at age 75.
One of the serving Deputy Lieutenants is appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant, and under most circumstances will stand in for the Lord Lieutenant when he or she cannot be present. The appointment as Vice Lord-Lieutenant does, however, end when the Lord-Lieutenant who made the appointment leaves his/her post.
See also
- Deputy Lieutenants of AberdeenDeputy Lieutenants of AberdeenDeputy Lieutenants of Aberdeen are commissioned by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen who, since 1899 by virtue of office, is also Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeen City....
- List of Deputy Lieutenants of Durham
- List of Deputy Lieutenants of Wiltshire