Edward Llewellyn, Baron Llewellyn of Steep

Llewellyn was educated at Sunningdale School, then Eton College, where he was a year above David Cameron. Llewellyn left Eton in 1983 and spent a brief amount of time working at Conservative Central Office, before going up to New College, Oxford, where he was Steward (i.e. President) of the College JCR. New College contemporaries include Rageh Omaar, Steve Hilton and Ian Katz. The UK Government website states that Llewellyn spent four years (from 1988 to 1992) working for the Conservative Research Department, including a year as Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher. == Political career ==

After Oxford, Llewellyn was engaged as an aide to Governor Chris Patten in Hong Kong from 1992 to 1997, as a member of Patten's 'Cabinet' following Patten's appointment as a European Commissioner from 1999 to 2002, and then as Chief of Staff to former Liberal Democrat Leader Paddy Ashdown in his role as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2002 to 2005. Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1997 Birthday Honours, Llewellyn was promoted to Officer of the same Order (OBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours. In July 2021, Lord Llewellyn was appointed an Honorary Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve. Chief of Staff to David Cameron Following David Cameron's victory at the Conservative leadership election in December 2005, Llewellyn was hired to be Cameron's personal chief of staff in his capacity as Leader of HM Opposition, continuing in this role until 2010. Coalition negotiations He served as part of the Conservative Party's negotiating team, along with George Osborne, William Hague and Oliver Letwin, when negotiating a prospective deal with the Liberal Democrats after the 2010 general election. Their negotiations being successful, the Conservative–LibDem coalition agreement was drawn up leading to the formation of the coalition government in 2010. Downing Street Chief of Staff Cameron became Prime Minister and appointed Llewellyn to the post of Downing Street Chief of Staff. In July 2011, several newspapers reported that Llewellyn asked Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates not to speak to Cameron about the News International phone hacking scandal. On 14 May 2015 following the Conservatives' general election victory, Llewellyn was sworn of the Privy Council. House of Lords In August 2016, Llewellyn was nominated for elevation as a life peer in David Cameron's Resignation Honours, being created on 20 October 2016 as Baron Llewellyn of Steep, of Steep, in the County of Hampshire. Introduced by Lord Patten of Barnes and Lord Hague of Richmond on 31 October, Lord Llewellyn took his seat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords. ==Diplomatic career==

Ambassador to France Appointed British Ambassador to France, on 23 September 2016, Llewellyn took office on 9 November 2016. Lord Llewellyn took a leave of absence from Parliament, as is customary while on His Majesty's Diplomatic Service. Succeeded in Paris by Dame Menna Rawlings in summer 2021, it was announced Lord Llewellyn would receive another diplomatic appointment. Ambassador to Italy Nominated on 18 January 2022 as British Ambassador to Italy and non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary to San Marino in succession to Jill Morris, Llewellyn presented his credentials to President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace on 7 April 2022. Lord and Lady Llewellyn resided at the Villa Wolkonsky in Rome. In 2025, Lord Llewellyn was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in connection with the State visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Italy. Director General, Political In September 2025 he was appointed Director General, Political at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. In this role he succeeds Sir Christian Turner who became UK ambassador to the United States. The DG, Political will act as a "international fixer and strategic foreign policy adviser". ==References==