Deputy lieutenants are nominated by a lord-lieutenant to assist with their duties (see the
Lieutenancies Act 1997). Deputy lieutenants receive their commission of appointment via the appropriate government minister by command of the
British monarch. In England and Wales, since November 2001, the minister responsible for most appointments is the
Lord Chancellor, with exceptions such as the
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In Scotland, since July 1999, it has been the
Scottish Ministers. Decades ago, a county could have as few as three deputy lieutenants. Today, there may be more than a dozen, as their number is proportional to the county's population. Deputy lieutenants tend to be people who either have served the local community, or have a history of public service in other fields. Deputy lieutenants represent the lord-lieutenant in their absence, including at local ceremonies and official events, from opening exhibitions to inductions of vicars (as requested by the
Church of England). They must live within their lieutenancy area, or within of its boundary. Their appointments do not terminate with any change of lord-lieutenant, but they are legally required to retire at age 75. , wearing
his uniform in 2020 One of the serving deputy lieutenants is appointed to be vice lord-lieutenant, who in most circumstances will stand in for a lord-lieutenant who cannot be present. The appointment as vice lord-lieutenant usually expires upon the retirement of the lord-lieutenant who made the choice. Generally, the vice lord-lieutenant would then revert to being a regular deputy lieutenant. Unlike the office of lord-lieutenant, which is an appointment in the gift of the Sovereign, the position of deputy lieutenant is an appointment of the Sovereign's appointee, and therefore not a direct appointment of the Sovereign
per se. Deputy lieutenant commissions are published by the clerk of the lieutenancy, as a State Appointment, in either the
London Gazette or the
Edinburgh Gazette, as appropriate, with the names of the persons appointed deputy lieutenants for that county or area, and the dates of their commissions. ==See also==