Lord Chamberlain's Office
Encyclopedia
The Lord Chamberlain's Office is a department within the British Royal Household
. It is presently concerned with matters such as protocol
, state visit
s, investiture
s, garden parties
, the State Opening of Parliament
, royal weddings and funerals. For example, in April 2005 it organised the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles
. It is also responsible for authorising use of the Royal Arms
.
As the Lord Chamberlain is a part-time position the day-to-day work of the Office is conducted by the Comptroller
of the Lord Chamberlain's Office.
's Office had a more significant role in British society prior to 1968, as it was the official censor
for virtually all theatre performed in Britain. Commercial theatre owners were generally satisfied by the safety this arrangement gave them; so long as they presented only licensed plays they were effectively immune from prosecution for any offence a play might cause. There were campaigns by playwrights, however, in opposition to the Lord Chamberlain's censorship, such as those involving J. M. Barrie
in 1909 and 1911.
By the 1960s, there were many playwrights and producer
s who wished to produce controversial works. Theatre companies such as the Royal Court Theatre
came into open conflict with the Lord Chamberlain's Office. Sometimes they would resort to such measures as declaring themselves private clubs for the performance of certain plays. The Lord Chamberlain's Office technically had jurisdiction over private performances, but had generally avoided getting involved with bona-fide private clubs. The various activist groups did not actually come up with solid legal loopholes, but the publicity they generated eventually resulted in the abolition of the role of official censor in the Theatres Act of 1968
.
One play which did eventually receive a license to be performed in a public theatre was Lady Chatterley, the dramatization by playwright John Harte of D. H. Lawrence
's novel Lady Chatterley's Lover
. It was licensed on 12 August 1960 to be performed at Wyndham's Theatre
in London's West End
—but only on the following strict conditions, failing which the producer was warned, the theatre could be closed down.
The following is the text of a letter sent to the producer, Miss Wauna Paul, on September 5, 1961 as negotiations proceeded:
Lord Chamberlain's Office
St James's Palace, S.W.1.
Dear Madam,
"Lady Chatterley"
I am desired by the Lord Chamberlain to inform
you that he is prepared to license the play "Lady
Chatterley" subject to your undertaking to comply
with his requirements noted on the annexed sheet.
Where matter is to be substituted for that
deleted, it must first be submitted to the Lord
Chamberlain, and in any case I am to ask for the
submission of the dialogue it is proposed to insert
at III-4
Yours faithfully
Appendix to letter to Miss Wauna Paul
Dated 5 September 1961
"LADY CHATTERLEY"
The following is disallowed:
Act II-6A. The word ' ..cunt.. ' (twice)
The phrases 'It's thee down there.
And what I get when I'm inside thee.
And what tha gets when I'm inside thee.'
Act II-33. The words ' .. Sir John Thomas.'
Act II-34. The word ' .. maidenhair ..'
Act II-36. The word ' .. fucking ..'
Act II-37. The word ' .. fucking ..' (twice)
An assurance is required that the stage directions given in
the manuscript will be implicitly followed, and notably:
(a) that they will not be exceeded by Connie and
Mellors at Act II pages 4–5.
(b) the MS at Act II pages 33–37 speaks of a hayloft
and 'we see nothing but straw', with Connie wear-
ing a slip. In this scene:
(i) no bed either actual or makeshift will be
allowed, the only covering being straw.
(ii)Connie must never wear less than the stated
slip, which must be opaque, cover her
breasts and be of adequate length.
(iii)Mellors must be reasonably clothed, at
least in pants.
(iv)the action between Connie and Mellors must
not exceed that described in the stage
directions submitted.
None of that was unexpected. But, in fact, John Harte had decided at the outset not to include the infamous four-letter words which, he felt, were not needed. On the contrary, they would be likely to receive unwanted laughter from audiences at the most inappropriate times, which would interrupt the play. Frieda Lawrence had raised no objections to their exclusion. The subject never even arose. But the charade had to be continued with The Lord Chamberlain's Office to ensure that certain incidents onstage would not be banned when the play transferred from The Arts Theatre (technically a membership club) to a public theatre. For example;
"Aye!" says Mellors in Act II-26; sitting up, his chest bare.
That was not allowed:
"Mellors must wear an upper garment which may be open to his chest."
And when Connie puts on her slip over her head:
"Not allowed. Connie must throughout wear an upper garment completely covering her torso."
After they made love, Mellors was not allowed to stand by the door in his shirt and bare feet:
"Disallowed. Mellors must wear under garments visible below his shirt."
When Connie starts to dress, hurriedly pulling on her stockings;
"This dressing must not include putting on of drawers, which must be understood to be
on throughout."
The Assistant Comptroller went to great lengths on 10 October 1961 to ensure by letter that the Lord Chamberlain's wished would be carried out:
"From what I say above" [regarding exposed chests, Connie putting her slip over her head,
completely covering her torso, Mellors wearing pants, and Connie getting dressed in classical
Arletty form - in her French movies - by pulling on her stockings, and not forgetting to pull on
her drawers]; "you will appreciate, and in fact I am to make quite plain to you, that the Lord
Chamberlain will not allow 'Mellors' and 'Connie' to appear to be together under a blanket
in a naked condition whether this actually is or is not so. In allowing them to appear on the
stage under a blanket the Lord Chamberlain is making a very definite concession, and because
of this he asks me to give a particular warning that no love making beyond that actually noted
in the Stage Directions submitted will be allowed."
The official license was signed by "Scarborough, Lord Chamberlain" (otherwise Lawrence Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough).
Royal Households of the United Kingdom
The Royal Households of the United Kingdom are the organised offices and support systems for the British Royal Family, along with their immediate families...
. It is presently concerned with matters such as protocol
Protocol (diplomacy)
In international politics, protocol is the etiquette of diplomacy and affairs of state.A protocol is a rule which guides how an activity should be performed, especially in the field of diplomacy. In diplomatic services and governmental fields of endeavor protocols are often unwritten guidelines...
, state visit
State visit
A state visit is a formal visit by a foreign head of state to another nation, at the invitation of that nation's head of state. State visits are the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations, and are marked by ceremonial pomp and diplomatic protocol. In parliamentary democracies, heads...
s, investiture
Investiture
Investiture, from the Latin is a rather general term for the formal installation of an incumbent...
s, garden parties
Garden party
A garden party is a social gathering with food provided, in the open in a park or a garden. An event described as a garden party is usually more formal than other similar gatherings, which may be called just parties, picnics, barbecues, etc,...
, the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
, royal weddings and funerals. For example, in April 2005 it organised the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles
Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles
The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla Parker Bowles took place in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, on 9 April 2005. The ceremony, conducted in the presence of the couples' families, was followed by a Church of England service of blessing at St George's Chapel...
. It is also responsible for authorising use of the Royal Arms
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion...
.
As the Lord Chamberlain is a part-time position the day-to-day work of the Office is conducted by the Comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
of the Lord Chamberlain's Office.
Theatre censorship
The Lord ChamberlainLord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
's Office had a more significant role in British society prior to 1968, as it was the official censor
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
for virtually all theatre performed in Britain. Commercial theatre owners were generally satisfied by the safety this arrangement gave them; so long as they presented only licensed plays they were effectively immune from prosecution for any offence a play might cause. There were campaigns by playwrights, however, in opposition to the Lord Chamberlain's censorship, such as those involving J. M. Barrie
J. M. Barrie
Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, OM was a Scottish author and dramatist, best remembered today as the creator of Peter Pan. The child of a family of small-town weavers, he was educated in Scotland. He moved to London, where he developed a career as a novelist and playwright...
in 1909 and 1911.
By the 1960s, there were many playwrights and producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
s who wished to produce controversial works. Theatre companies such as the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
came into open conflict with the Lord Chamberlain's Office. Sometimes they would resort to such measures as declaring themselves private clubs for the performance of certain plays. The Lord Chamberlain's Office technically had jurisdiction over private performances, but had generally avoided getting involved with bona-fide private clubs. The various activist groups did not actually come up with solid legal loopholes, but the publicity they generated eventually resulted in the abolition of the role of official censor in the Theatres Act of 1968
Theatres Act 1968
The Theatres Act 1968 abolished censorship of the stage in the United Kingdom.Since 1737, scripts had been licensed for performance by the Lord Chamberlain's Office a measure initially introduced to protect Walpole's administration from political satire...
.
One play which did eventually receive a license to be performed in a public theatre was Lady Chatterley, the dramatization by playwright John Harte of D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Richards Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter who published as D. H. Lawrence. His collected works represent an extended reflection upon the dehumanising effects of modernity and industrialisation...
's novel Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lady Chatterley's Lover is a novel by D. H. Lawrence, first published in 1928. The first edition was printed privately in Florence, Italy with assistance from Pino Orioli; it could not be published openly in the United Kingdom until 1960...
. It was licensed on 12 August 1960 to be performed at Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by the actor/manager Charles Wyndham . Located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, it was designed by W.G.R. Sprague about 1898, the architect of six other London theatres between then and 1916...
in London's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
—but only on the following strict conditions, failing which the producer was warned, the theatre could be closed down.
The following is the text of a letter sent to the producer, Miss Wauna Paul, on September 5, 1961 as negotiations proceeded:
Lord Chamberlain's Office
St James's Palace, S.W.1.
Dear Madam,
"Lady Chatterley"
I am desired by the Lord Chamberlain to inform
you that he is prepared to license the play "Lady
Chatterley" subject to your undertaking to comply
with his requirements noted on the annexed sheet.
Where matter is to be substituted for that
deleted, it must first be submitted to the Lord
Chamberlain, and in any case I am to ask for the
submission of the dialogue it is proposed to insert
at III-4
Yours faithfully
Appendix to letter to Miss Wauna Paul
Dated 5 September 1961
"LADY CHATTERLEY"
The following is disallowed:
Act II-6A. The word ' ..cunt.. ' (twice)
The phrases 'It's thee down there.
And what I get when I'm inside thee.
And what tha gets when I'm inside thee.'
Act II-33. The words ' .. Sir John Thomas.'
Act II-34. The word ' .. maidenhair ..'
Act II-36. The word ' .. fucking ..'
Act II-37. The word ' .. fucking ..' (twice)
An assurance is required that the stage directions given in
the manuscript will be implicitly followed, and notably:
(a) that they will not be exceeded by Connie and
Mellors at Act II pages 4–5.
(b) the MS at Act II pages 33–37 speaks of a hayloft
and 'we see nothing but straw', with Connie wear-
ing a slip. In this scene:
(i) no bed either actual or makeshift will be
allowed, the only covering being straw.
(ii)Connie must never wear less than the stated
slip, which must be opaque, cover her
breasts and be of adequate length.
(iii)Mellors must be reasonably clothed, at
least in pants.
(iv)the action between Connie and Mellors must
not exceed that described in the stage
directions submitted.
None of that was unexpected. But, in fact, John Harte had decided at the outset not to include the infamous four-letter words which, he felt, were not needed. On the contrary, they would be likely to receive unwanted laughter from audiences at the most inappropriate times, which would interrupt the play. Frieda Lawrence had raised no objections to their exclusion. The subject never even arose. But the charade had to be continued with The Lord Chamberlain's Office to ensure that certain incidents onstage would not be banned when the play transferred from The Arts Theatre (technically a membership club) to a public theatre. For example;
"Aye!" says Mellors in Act II-26; sitting up, his chest bare.
That was not allowed:
"Mellors must wear an upper garment which may be open to his chest."
And when Connie puts on her slip over her head:
"Not allowed. Connie must throughout wear an upper garment completely covering her torso."
After they made love, Mellors was not allowed to stand by the door in his shirt and bare feet:
"Disallowed. Mellors must wear under garments visible below his shirt."
When Connie starts to dress, hurriedly pulling on her stockings;
"This dressing must not include putting on of drawers, which must be understood to be
on throughout."
The Assistant Comptroller went to great lengths on 10 October 1961 to ensure by letter that the Lord Chamberlain's wished would be carried out:
"From what I say above" [regarding exposed chests, Connie putting her slip over her head,
completely covering her torso, Mellors wearing pants, and Connie getting dressed in classical
Arletty form - in her French movies - by pulling on her stockings, and not forgetting to pull on
her drawers]; "you will appreciate, and in fact I am to make quite plain to you, that the Lord
Chamberlain will not allow 'Mellors' and 'Connie' to appear to be together under a blanket
in a naked condition whether this actually is or is not so. In allowing them to appear on the
stage under a blanket the Lord Chamberlain is making a very definite concession, and because
of this he asks me to give a particular warning that no love making beyond that actually noted
in the Stage Directions submitted will be allowed."
The official license was signed by "Scarborough, Lord Chamberlain" (otherwise Lawrence Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough).
List of Comptrollers
- Sir Spencer Ponsonby-FaneSpencer Ponsonby-FaneSir Spencer Cecil Brabazon Ponsonby, later Ponsonby-Fane, GCB ISO was an English cricketer and civil servant.He was born in 1824 in Mayfair, the sixth son of John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough.-Cricket:...
GCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
ISOImperial Service OrderThe Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become...
(1857–1901) - Major-GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Sir Arthur Ellis, GCVO MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1901–1907) - Brigadier-GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Sir Douglas DawsonDouglas DawsonBrigadier-General Sir Douglas Frederick Rawdon Dawson , GCVO, KCB, CMG, was a British Army general officer.He was the second son of the Hon. Thomas Vesey Dawson, an officer of the Coldstream Guards who was killed at the Battle of Inkerman. Hispaternal grandfather was Richard Thomas Dawson, 2nd...
, GCVO KCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
CMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(1907–1920) - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Honourable Sir George Crichton, GCVO DLDeputy LieutenantIn 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....
(1920–1936) - Lieutenant-ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Sir Terence Nugent, GCVO MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1936–1960) - Brigadier Sir Norman Gwatkin, GCVO DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(1960–1964) - Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Eric Penn, GCVO OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1964–1981) - Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John JohnstonJohn Johnston (Royal Household)Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John "Johnny" Frederick Johnston GCVO MC was an officer in the British Army and then joined the Royal Household, serving as Assistant Comptroller and then Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office. Sometimes known as "Stopwatch Johnny", he was one of the Queen's most...
, GCVO MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1981–1987) - Lieutenant-Colonel George Alston-Roberts-West, CVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
DLDeputy LieutenantIn 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....
(1987–1990) - Lieutenant-Colonel SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Malcolm RossWalter Hugh Malcolm RossLieutenant-Colonel Sir Walter Hugh "Malcolm" Ross, GCVO, OBE DL , is a member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, and since 2006 of the Prince of Wales.Sir Malcolm was educated at Eton and Sandhurst...
, GCVO OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1991–2005) - Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew FordAndrew Ford (Royal Household)Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Charles Ford, is a retired Guards officer of the British Army, now holding the office of Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office, in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, from 6 January 2006....
(2006–)