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Royal Communications is a branch of the
Private Secretary A private secretary (PS) is a civil servant in a governmental department or ministry, responsible to a secretary of state or minister; or a public servant in a royal household, responsible to a member of the royal family. The role exists in ...
's Office of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
responsible for media relations and communicating with various organisations and authorities on matters to do with The King and the Royal Family. Until early 2014, Royal Communications was known as the Royal Household Press Office. The head of Royal Communications is the Communications Secretary to the King and Queen Consort. The post is currently held b
Tobyn Andreae


Communications Secretaries

In 2014, the press offices of members of the Royal Family merged for a time at Buckingham Palace, though individual Communications Secretaries for members of the Royal Family were retained. Those members of the Royal Family who do not have their own Communications Secretaries are represented by that of The King and Queen Consort. The current Communications Secretaries within the Royal Household are: * Tobyn Andreae (Communications Secretary to The King and Queen Consort) * Lee Thompson (Communications Secretary to The Prince and Princess of Wales)


Former Press Office positions

Many officials have been made members of the
Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, or ...
, at grade Member (MVO), Lieutenant (LVO), Commander (CVO), or
Knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
Commander (KCVO).


Director of Royal Communications (2014–2018)

• Sally Osman, LVO 2014–2018


The Queen's Media Secretary (2016–2018)

• Steve Kingstone, MVO 2016–2018


List of Communications & Press Secretary to The Queen

* James Roscoe, MVO 2013–2017 * Ailsa Anderson, LVO 2010–2013 * Samantha Cohen, LVO 2007–2010 * Miss Penelope Russell-Smith, CVO 2002–07


List of Deputy Press Secretary to The Queen

* Steve Kingstone, MVO 2013–2016 * James Roscoe, MVO 2012–2013 * Ed Perkins, MVO 2010–2012 * Ailsa Anderson, LVO 2007–2010 * Samantha Cohen, LVO 2003–2007 * Penelope Russell-Smith, LVO 1998–2002 * Geoffrey Crawford, CVO 1993–1997 * John Haslam, LVO 1988–1993


List of Communications Secretaries (1998–2002)

* Simon Walker 2000–2002 * Simon Lewis 1998–2000


List of Press Secretaries to the Sovereign (1918–2002)

* Penelope Russell-Smith, LVO 2000–2002 * Geoffrey Crawford, CVO 1997–2000 * Charles Anson, LVO 1990–1997 * Robin Janvrin, LVO 1987–1990 * Michael Shea, CVO 1978–1987 * Ronald Allison, CVO 1973–1978 * Robin Ludlow, 1972–1973 * William Heseltine, CVO 1968–1972 * Richard Colville, KCVO CB DSC 1947–1968 * Lewis Ritchie, KCVO
CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
1944–1947 vacant 1931–1944 * Sir Frank Mitchell,
CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
MVO 1920–1931 * Samuel Pryor 1918–1920


List of Assistant Press Secretaries to the Sovereign

* 1947–1957: Hon. Alexander Hood * 1958–1981: Anne Hawkins (Wall from 1975) * 1959–1960:
Joseph Bennet Odunton Joseph Bennet Komla Odunton (24 December 1920 – 22 December 2004) was a Ghanaian public servant and a communications expert. He served as director of information services in the Nkrumah government, an assistant press secretary to the queen an ...
*1965–1967: William Heseltine *1970–1974: Lawrence Bryant


References

{{reflist Positions within the British Royal Household