His Majesty's Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. He is the King's link with the diplomatic community in London, arranges the annual diplomatic corps reception by the Sovereign, organises the regular presentation of credentials ceremonies for ambassadors and high commissioners, as well as supervises attendance of diplomats at state events. Marshals generally hold office for ten-year terms and were formerly retired senior military officers, though the last three marshals have been diplomats. The marshal is assisted by the Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, the First Assistant Marshal, in addition to other assistant marshals.
The office was created as recently as 1920 to replace the former Master of the Ceremonies, an office dating from c.1620. Before 1920, the Vice-Marshal was known as the Marshal of the Ceremonies.Obituary of Sir Hubert Montgomery, The Times, 5 December 1942 The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps wears a distinctive two-sided 17th-century badge of office, hung from gold chains (which was previously worn by the Master of Ceremonies): in times of peace the picture seen is an olive branch, together with the motto Beati Pacifici (the personal motto of James I); in times of war the medal is reversed, to show the image of a brandished sword and the motto Dieu et mon droit.
The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps is, along with the King's Equerry, expected to walk backwards discreetly when leaving the presence of the monarch. They are the only two visitors who are expected to do this today, as the ancient tradition that all who had the honour of a meeting with the monarch were expected to walk discreetly backwards when leaving the Sovereign's presence has been dropped for health and safety reasons. These two senior members of the Royal Household are expected to walk backwards leaving the room when they have either been summoned to see the King personally or they are introducing others – such as senior foreign diplomats – for audiences with the King.
List of Marshals of the Diplomatic Corps 1920–1934: Major-General Sir John Hanbury-Williams 1934–1945: Lieutenant-General Sir Sidney Clive 1945–1950: Sir John Monck 1950–1961: Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones 1962–1971: Rear-Admiral David Cairns, 5th Earl Cairns 1972–1981: Major-General Lord Michael Fitzalan-Howard 1982–1991: Lieutenant-General Sir John Richards, Royal Marines 1992–2001: Vice-Admiral Sir James Weatherall 2001–2008: Sir Anthony Figgis 2008–2014: Charles Gray 2014–present: Alistair Harrison
List of Vice-Marshals of the Diplomatic Corps 1936–1945: Sir John Monck 1946–1957: Sir Marcus Cheke 1957–1965: Captain Dugald Malcolm 1965–1972: Sir Lees Mayall 1972–1975: Sir John Curle 1975–1982: Sir Roger Du Boulay 1982–1986: Sir Eustace Gibbs 1986–1991: Sir Roger Hervey 1991–1996: Sir Anthony Figgis 1996–1999: Philip Astley 1999–2001: Kathryn Colvin 2001–2006: Charles de Chassiron 2006–2009: Sarah Gillett 2009–2012: Simon Martin 2012–2014: Anna Clunes 2015: Catherine Nettleton 2015–2017: Julian Evans 2017–2020: Neil Hollandhttps://www.gov.uk/government/people/neil-holland 2020–2025: Victoria Busby 2025–present: Scott Furssedonn-WoodScott Furssedonn-Wood
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