Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colo ...

Sir Walter Hugh Malcolm Ross, (27 October 1943 – 27 October 2019) was a member 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 ...

, and from 2006 to 2008, master of the household to Prince Charles.

Early life

Ross was born on 27 October 1943 to Colonel

Walter John Macdonald Ross Walter John Macdonald Ross , (1914–1982) was a British Army officer who served as Lord Lieutenant of Kirkcudbright from 1977 to 1982. Personal life Ross was son of Major Robert Ross (1877–1935), deputy assistant provost marshal for the Wes ...

(d. 1982) and Josephine May Cross (d. 1982).Burke's Peearage (2003) volume 3, page 3401 His younger brother is (Walter) Robert Alexander Ross (b. 1950), Keeper of the Records of the Duchy of Cornwall until retiring in 2013. He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst. He served in the

Scots Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the E ...

from 1964 to 1987, holding the posts of Adjutant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 1977–1979, and reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1982.

Career

Ross joined the Royal Household in 1987 as Assistant Comptroller of the

Lord Chamberlain's Office The Lord Chamberlain's Office is a department within the British Royal Household. It is concerned with matters such as protocol, state visits, investitures, garden parties, royal weddings and funerals. For example, in April 2005 it organised th ...

and Management Auditor. In 1989 he ceased to be Management Auditor, but remained as Assistant Comptroller until 1990. From 1989 to 1990 he was Secretary of the

Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, or simply the Central Chancery, is an office of the Lord Chamberlain’s department within the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for the administration of ...

. He was Comptroller of the

1991–2005, and

Master of the Household The Master of the Household is the operational head (see Chief operating officer) of the "below stairs" elements of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. The role has charge of the domestic staff, from the Royal Kitchens, the pages and foot ...

to the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...

between 2006 and 2008. From 1988 on he was an Extra Equerry to

the Queen In the English-speaking world, The Queen most commonly refers to: * Elizabeth II (1926–2022), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death The Queen may also refer to: * Camilla, Queen Consort (born 1947), ...

. He was made an OBE in 1988, and joined 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 ...

in 1994 as a CVO. He was knighted as a KCVO in 1999, and advanced to

GCVO 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 ...

in 2005. He was appointed GCStJ in 2016 on becoming the Lord Prior of the Order of St John. From 1981 on he was a member of the

Royal Company of Archers The Royal Company of Archers, The King's Bodyguard for Scotland is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's bodyguard in Scotland—a role it has performed since 1822 during the reign of King George IV when the company provided a per ...

, and a

Freeman Freeman, free men, or variant, may refer to: * a member of the Third Estate in medieval society (commoners), see estates of the realm * Freeman, an apprentice who has been granted freedom of the company, was a rank within Livery companies * Free ...

of the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...

as of 1994. In 2006, he was made Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, succeeding Sir

Norman Arthur Lieutenant-General Sir John Norman Stewart Arthur, KCB, CVO (born 6 March 1931) was General Officer Commanding in Scotland. Military career Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Arthur was commissioned into th ...

. He had been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2003. He retired as Lord Lieutenant on 27 October 2018, when he reached his 75th birthday. In 2007, he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman to the International Security and Defence group, Westminster Group plc, whilst maintaining his full duties to the Royal Household. On 1 September 2016 he was appointed as the Lord Prior of the

Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British royal order of ...

. Honour Ribbons: * Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon

(GCVO) *

Order_of_the_British_Empire_(Military)_Ribbon

Order of the British Empire 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 ...

(OBE) * :

Venerable Order of St John The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British British monarchy ...

(GCStJ) *

UK Elizabeth II Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal ribbon

Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal The Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal is a civil decoration awarded by the British monarch to servants of the royal household for long and faithful service. History The Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal was establis ...

(Queen Elizabeth II Version) - 20 years service to the British Royal Family.

Personal life

On 31 January 1969, he married Susan Jane Gow (b. 1949), daughter of General Sir James Michael Gow (1924–2013) and Jane Emily Scott. Through his wife, he was the uncle of

Sophie Hunter Sophie Irene Hunter (born 16 March 1978) is an English theatre director, playwright and former actress and singer. She made her directorial debut in 2007 co-directing the experimental play ''The Terrific Electric'' at the Barbican Pit after her ...

(b. 1978), the wife of actor

Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch (born 19 July 1976) is an English actor. Known for his work on screen and stage, he has received various accolades, including a British Academy Television Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Laurence Oli ...

. Together he and his wife had three children: * Tabitha Alice Ross (b. 1970) * Flora Jane Josephine Ross (b. 1974) * Hector Walter James Ross (b. 1983) He died on 27 October 2019, his birthday, at the age of 76.Sir Malcolm Ross, 1943-2019
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Malcolm 1943 births 2019 deaths Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Officers of the Order of the British Empire Deputy Lieutenants of Kirkcudbright Lord-Lieutenants of Kirkcudbright Equerries Scots Guards officers Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst People educated at Eton College Members of the Household of the Prince of Wales Members of the Royal Company of Archers Bailiffs Grand Cross of the Order of St John

Early life

Career

Personal life

See also

References