Sunday, 10 March 2024

Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Palace of Holyroodhouse
Palace of Holyrood House where Lord High Commissioner stays
Mattias Hill, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The General Assembly of the a Church of Scotland takes place every year and is usually a week long. The Monarch is represented by a Lord High Commissioner or on rare occasion may attend themselves. The Lord High Commissioner is a purely ceremonial role. They represent the Monarch at the Assembly. Usually the position is given to a senior government official from Scotland. On a rare occasion, a working royal is appointed. 

While this position is not directly connected to the Order of Thistle, both positions honor senior officials and public figures from Scotland. And as such, the Lord High Commissioner is often a Knight of the Order of Thistle. 

The Lord High Commissioner is not a permanent position. The person only has that position while they are in Scotland for the General Assembly. When a non-Royal is appointed, often they are re-appointed for a 2nd year following their first. 

Form of Address:

The monarch’s representative is referred to as “His/Her Grace The Lord High Commissioner” during the week they are performing their duties in that role  

A woman could also be referred to as “His Majesty’s Lord Commissioner,” if they request so. (Some woman, like Princess Anne have continued to use the male version of the title.)

Events:

  • Ceremony of the Keys at Palace of Holyrood House
  • Opening of Church of Scotland’s General Assembly
  • Other engagements in Scotland throughout the Week
  • Closing of Church of Scotland’s General Assembly


King Charles III's Reign

Year Person Notes
2020s
2025 --
2024 Prince Edward2nd time serving
May 18th-23rd
2023
Lord Patrick Hodge
(Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the UK)
Continued practice of
two year terms

Queen Elizabeth II's Reign
Year Person Notes
2020s
2022
Lord Patrick Hodge
(Knight of Order of Thistle)
-
2021 Prince William
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
1st time serving
2020 Canceled due to Pandemic
2010s
2019
Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch
(Knight of Order of Thistle)
-
2018 -
2017 Princess Anne
(Lady of the Order of Thistle)
2nd time serving
2016
David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead
(Knight of Order of Thistle)
-
2015 -
2014 Prince Edward
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
1st time serving
2013 James Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas-
2012 -
2011
David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn
(Knight of Order of Thistle)
-
2010 -
2000s
2009
George Reid
(Later became Knight of the Order of Garter)
-
2008 -
2007 Prince Andrew1st time serving
2006 James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern
(Knight of Order of Thistle)
-
2005 -
2004 David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
2003 -
2002 Queen Elizabeth II attended in Person2nd time attending
Golden Jubilee year
2001 George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie
(Knight of Order of Thistle)
-
2000 Prince Charles
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
1st time serving
1990s
1999 Norman Hogg, Baron Hogg of Cumbernauld-
1998 -
1997 Norman Macfarlane, Baron Macfarlane of Bearsden
(Knight of Order of Thistle)
-
1996 Princess Anne
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
1st time serving
1995 Lady Marion Fraser
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1994 -
1993 Norman Macfarlane, Baron Macfarlane of Bearsden
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1992 -
1991 Donald Ross, Lord Ross-
1990 -
1980
1989 Sir Iain Mark Tennant
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1988 -
1987 John Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1986 -
1985 Charles Maclean, Baron Maclean
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1984 -
1983 Sir John Gilmour, 3rd Baronet-
1982 -
1981 Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1980 -
1970
1979 Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock-
1978 -
1977 David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1976 Hector MacLennan-
1975 -
1974 Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1973 -
1972 Ronald Colville, 2nd Baron Clydesmuir
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1971
1970 Peggy HerbisonFirst Female to hold the position
1960
1969 Queen Elizabeth II attended in Person1st Time Attending
1968 John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1967 -
1966 Harald Leslie, Lord Birsay
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1965 -
1964 Richard O'Connor
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1963 Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1962 -
1961 -
1960 David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1950s
1959 David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss
(Later became Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1958 Duke of Hamilton
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1957 Walter Elliot-
1956 -
1955 Duke of Hamilton
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-
1954 -
1953 -
1952 Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
(Knight of the Order of Thistle)
-

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