Personal aide-de-camp

The practice of appointing family members as Personal Aides-de-Camp was begun in the 1870s by Queen Victoria. In 1895 she wrote to her cousin Prince George, Duke of Cambridge (who was approaching the end of his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces) to inform him of her intention to appoint him as her first personal Aide-de-Camp, 'with the right of attending me on all military occasions and of holding the Parade on my birthday'. In 1937 and 1953, the Personal Aides-de-Camp were specifically listed as riding close behind the Gold State Coach in the Coronation procession. There are other categories of aides-de-camp to the Sovereign; most are serving military, naval, and air officers, usually of colonel or brigadier rank or equivalent. There are also specific posts for very senior officers, such as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp, Flag Aide-de-Camp, Aide-de-Camp General, and Air Aide-de-Camp. ==Insignia==

The emblems of the office are the royal cypher and crown (of the monarch who appointed the officer), which is worn on the uniform shoulder straps; and (when wearing certain classes of uniform) No. 1 gold aiguillettes, which are worn on the right shoulder. The aiguillettes of Personal Aides-de-Camp are distinguished from those of other Aides-de-Camp by the addition of the royal cypher and crown to each tag. In the 20th century, the royal cyphers worn by Personal Aides-de-Camp differed from those worn by other officers in that they consisted of block letters, rather than being of the usual stylised format. Personal Aides-de-Camp continue to wear the royal cypher on their shoulder straps even after relinquishing the appointment, and if the appointment was held under more than one sovereign then the cypher of each is worn. ==List of Personal Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign by reign==

Ranks shown are as at the time of first appointment. Victoria Edward VII George V Edward VIII George VI Elizabeth II Charles III ==See also==