Page of the Presence
Encyclopedia
A Page of the Presence is a servant of the British
Royal Household
who acts as a personal attendant to Royal visitors. During events at Buckingham Palace
(such as receptions, state visit
s, garden parties or investiture
s), they are positioned at the Grand Entrance and supervise the arrival of guests and heads of state
. They also man the Privy Purse door where members of the British government are received and the daily red boxes
are received and dispatched. Other duties include looking after the palace's visitors' book and they are also responsible for the service of meals to the Royal Family
.
The origin of the term derives from the Presence Chamber, which is where kings and queens of the past would dine in state, receive visitors and hold meetings of the Privy Council
. As of 2010, there are three Pages of the Presence.
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...
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....
who acts as a personal attendant to Royal visitors. During events at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
(such as receptions, 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, garden parties or investiture
Investiture
Investiture, from the Latin is a rather general term for the formal installation of an incumbent...
s), they are positioned at the Grand Entrance and supervise the arrival of guests and heads of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
. They also man the Privy Purse door where members of the British government are received and the daily red boxes
Red box (government)
The term "Red box" informally refers to a ministerial box used by ministers in the British government to carry their documents. Similar in appearance to a briefcase, they are primarily used to hold and transport official departmental papers from place to place.-Ministerial box:The design of...
are received and dispatched. Other duties include looking after the palace's visitors' book and they are also responsible for the service of meals to the Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
.
The origin of the term derives from the Presence Chamber, which is where kings and queens of the past would dine in state, receive visitors and hold meetings of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. As of 2010, there are three Pages of the Presence.