Page of Honour

Pages of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II in the procession to St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle during the annual service of the Order of the Garter, 2006.

A Page of Honour is a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It requires attendance on state occasions, but does not now involve the daily duties which were once attached to the office of page. The only physical activity involved is usually carrying the long train of the Queen's robes.

While a page is a comparatively low-ranking servant, a Page of Honour is a distinguished position. It is usually a distinction granted to teenage sons of members of the nobility and gentry, and especially of senior members of the Royal Household. Pages of Honour feature in British Coronations, the State Opening of Parliament, and other ceremonies.

Livery[]

Pages of Honour in England wear a scarlet frock coat with gold trimmings, a white satin waistcoat, white breeches and hose, white gloves, black buckled shoes and a lace cravat and ruffles. A sword is also worn with the outfit and a feathered three-cornered hat is provided.^[1] In Scotland the outfit is identical, but in green rather than scarlet (as seen periodically at the Thistle Service in Edinburgh).^[2] In Ireland, when Pages of Honour were attendant upon the King, Pages of Honour wore exactly the same uniform as at the English Court, except that the colour was St. Patrick's blue with silver lace.^[1]

At Coronations, the peers who carry regalia in the procession (and others with particular roles in the service) are expected to have their own pages in attendance. These pages are directed to wear "the same pattern of clothes as the Pages of Honour wear, but of the Livery colour of the Lords they attend... [except that] ...the Royal liveries being scarlet and gold, the use of this combination of colours is restricted to the Pages of Honour, and in the case of a Peer whose colours are scarlet and gold, for scarlet some variant, such as murrey or claret, should be used."^[3]

Pages of Honour[]

Pages of Honour carrying the train of Queen Alexandra during her anointing at the Coronation of Edward VII, depicted in a painting by Laurits Tuxen.

Charles II[]

1661–1662: Bevil Skelton
1661–1669:
1662–1668: Sidney Godolphin
1664–1665:
1665–1671?: Thomas Felton
1668–1678: John Berkeley
1668–1676:
1670: Charles Wyndham
1671–1685:
1671–1685:
1673–1678:
1674–1678:
1678–1685:
1680–1685:
1681–1685: Charles Skelton

James II[]

1685: Thomas Windsor
1685:
1685:

William III[]

First Page of Honour

1689–1692?:
1692–1697:
1697–1702: Robert Rich

Second Page of Honour

1689–1690: Arnold van Keppel
1690–1693?:
1695–1702: Thomas Harrison

Third Page of Honour

1689–1693?:
1697–1702:

Fourth Page of Honour

1690–1693: Matthew Harvey
1693–1697: George Feilding
1697–1702:

appears in the post-mortem accounts of the Board of Green Cloth as a page of honour to William III, but this may be an error, as he appears elsewhere as a pensioner after serving as Queen Mary's page of honour.

Anne[]

First Page of Honour

1702–1707: Hon. John Egerton
1707–1714: Hon. Richard Arundell

Second Page of Honour

1702–1709:
1709–1714: John Mordaunt

Third Page of Honour

1702–1708: John Gough
1708–1712: Charles Hedges
1712–1714: Thomas Murray

Fourth Page of Honour

1702–1710: Hon. Henry Berkeley
1710–1714: John Hampden

George I[]

First Page of Honour

1714–1727:

Second Page of Honour

1714–1718: John Mordaunt
1718–1721: Emanuel Howe
1721–1727: Archibald Carmichael

Third Page of Honour

1714–1724: Thomas Murray
1724–1727: Sir William Irby, Bt

Fourth Page of Honour

1714–1724:
1724–1727:
1727: Henry Newton

George II[]

First Page of Honour

1727–1734: John FitzWilliam
1734–1739: Philip Roberts
1739–1745:
1745–1748: William Tryon
1748–1753: John Jenkinson
1753–1760: Hon. John Byng

Second Page of Honour

1727–1731:
1731–1735:
1735–1739: John Ashburnham
1739–1744: Bluett Wallop
1744–1747: Hon. William Howe
1747–1751:
1751–1755: William Feilding
1755–1760: Hon. Henry Monckton

Third Page of Honour

1727–1731: Sir William Irby, Bt
1731–1737:
1737–1740:
1740–1746:
1746–1747:
1747–1752: Thomas Brudenell
1752–1757: William Middleton
1757–1760: Henry Wallop

Fourth Page of Honour

1727–1731: Archibald Carmichael
1731–1737: Thomas Style
1737–1741: Hon. Charles Roper
1741–1746: Hon. William Keppel
1746–1748:
1748–1753: Harvey Smith
1753–1759: James Bathurst
1759–1760: John Wrottesley

George III[]

First Page of Honour

1760–1762:
1762–1769:
1769–1777: Henry Greville
1777–1784:
1784–1793:
1793–1795: Henry Wilson
1795–1803:
1803–1812: Charles Greville
1812–1815:
1816–1818: John Bloomfield
1818–1820: Arthur Richard Wellesley

Second Page of Honour

1760–1764: Henry Vernon
1764–1772: Thomas Thoroton
1772–1777: Richard Barrington
1777–1782:
1782–1794: ^[4]
1794–1802:
1802–1803:
1803–1808: vacant
1808–1809:
1809–1815:
1816–1820:

Third Page of Honour

1760–1761: Hon. Edmund Boyle
1761–1768: John Manners
1768–1782: Francis Mackenzie
1782–1789: John Murray
1789–1794: Charles Jenkinson
1794–1800:
1800–1804:
1804–1811: Henry Somerset
1812–1817: Charles Arbuthnot^{[citation needed]}
1817–1820: Frederick Paget

Fourth Page of Honour

1760–1768:
1768–1776: Francis Chaplin
1776–1781: William Paul de Cerjat
1781–1786: Kenneth Howard
1786–1791: James Cockburn
1791–1794: Edward Draper
1794–1800: Charles Parker
1800–1804:
1804–1810:
1810–1816: Henry Murray
1816–1819: Frederick Culling–Smith
1819–1820: Arthur Torrens

Fifth Page of Honour

1760–1761: John Wrottesley
1773–1781: George Bristow
1781–1782: John Murray

George IV[]

First Page of Honour

1820–1821: Arthur Richard Wellesley
1821–1826: Lord Frederick Paulet
1826–1828:
1828–1830:

Second Page of Honour

1820–1823: Frederick Paget
1823–1826:
1826–1830: Frederick Hamilton

Third Page of Honour

1820–1824: Charles Bagot
1824–1830: Arthur William FitzRoy Somerset

Fourth Page of Honour

1820–1825: Arthur Torrens
1825–1830:

William IV[]

First Page of Honour

1830–1835:
1835–1837: Charles Ellice

Second Page of Honour

1830–1831: Frederick Hamilton
1831–1837: Frederick Stephenson

Third Page of Honour

1830–1832:
1832–1837: Lord Hay

Fourth Page of Honour

1830:
1830–1837:
1837:

Victoria[]

First Page of Honour

1837–1839: Charles Ellice^[5]
1839–1844:
1844–1852: George Gordon
1852–1859: Henry Farquharson
1859–1862:
1862–1869:
1869–1871:
1871–1876:
1876–1881: Hon. Victor Spencer
1881–1884:
1884–1890: Eric Thesiger
1890–1894: Hon. Maurice Drummond
1894–1901:
1901–1901:

Second Page of Honour

1837–1840:
1840–1847: Henry Byng
1847–1853:
1853–1861:
1861–1867: Arthur Paget
1867–1874:
1874–1877: Laurence Drummond^[6]
1877–1882: ^[6]
1882–1887: Arthur Ponsonby
1887–1892:
1892–1895:
1895–1899:
1899–1901:

Third Page of Honour

1837–1839: Lord Kilmarnock
1839–1841:
1841–1856: Archibald Stuart-Wortley
1856–1862: Viscount Cuffe Castle
1862–1868: Hon. Arthur Lyttleton
1868–1874: Hon. George Somerset
1874–1879: Count Edward Gleichen
1879–1883:
1883–1893:
1893:
1893–1896:
1896–1901:

Fourth Page of Honour

1837–1840:
1840–1845:
1845–1852:
1852–1859:
1859–1866:
1866–1870: Hon. Frederick Stopford
1870–1876: Arthur Hardinge
1876–1877:
1877–1881: Hon. Francis Hay
1881–1883:
1883–1886: Hon. Edward FitzRoy
1886–1890:
1890–1895:
1895–1897: Alexander Wood
1897–1901:

Edward VII[]

First Page of Honour

1901–1904:
1904–1910: Hon. Edward Knollys

Second Page of Honour

1901–1903:
1903–1908:
1908–1910: Anthony Lowther

Third Page of Honour

1901:
1901–1907: Hon. Victor Alexander Spencer^[7]
1907–1910:

Fourth Page of Honour

1901–1902:
1902–1906: ^[8]
1906–1908:
1908–1910:

George V[]

First Page of Honour

1910–1911: Hon. Edward Knollys
1911–1917: Edward Reid
1917–1921:
1921–1924: The Earl Erne
1924–1927:
1927–1932:
1932–1936:

Second Page of Honour

1910–1913: Anthony Lowther
1913–1916: Hon. Thomas Brand
1916–1919: Edward Ponsonby
1919–1925:
1925–1932: Neville Wigram
1932–1935:
1935–1936: The Lord Herschell

Third Page of Honour

1910:
1910–1914:
1914–1917: Gerald Lloyd-Verney
1917–1919:
1919–1923: Henry Hunloke
1923–1927: Michael Adeane
1927–1931: Jock Colville
1931–1935: Viscount Errington
1935–1936:

Fourth Page of Honour

1910–1913:
1913–1915:
1915–1917:
1917–1921:
1921–1924: George Gordon-Lennox
1924–1930: Harry Legge-Bourke
1930–1933:
1933–1936: George Hardinge

Edward VIII[]

First Page of Honour

1936:

Second Page of Honour

1936: The Lord Herschell

Third Page of Honour

1936:

Fourth Page of Honour

1936: George Hardinge

George VI[]

First Page of Honour

1936–1940:
1940–1948: None due to the Second World War
1948–1950: Lord Hyde^[9]
1950–1952: ^[10]
1952: The Earl Erne^[11]

Second Page of Honour

1935–1940: Baron Herschell
1940–1947: None due to the World War
1947–1951: ^[12]
1951–1952: ^[13]

Third Page of Honour

1936–1940:
1940–1946: None due to the World War
1946–1949: Bernard Gordon Lennox^[14]
1949–1952: ^[15]

Fourth Page of Honour

1936–1938: George Hardinge
1938–1939:
1939–1946: None due to the World War
1946–1950: George Paynter^[14]
1950–1952: ^[16]

Elizabeth II[]

First Page of Honour

1952–1954: The Earl Erne^[17]
1954–1956: ^[18]
1956–1959: Sir Mark Palmer, 5th Baronet,^[19] whose mother was Lady Abel Smith, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen.
1959–1962:
1962–1964: ^[20]
1964–1965: Lord Scrymgeour^[21]
1965–1967: ^[22]
1967–1970: ^[23] whose mother was Lady Abel Smith, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, and who is a half-brother of Sir Mark Palmer, 5th Baronet, First Page of Honour 1956–1959.
1970–1973: ^[24]
1973–1976: ^[25]
1976–1978: ^[25]
1979–1980: Hon. Thomas Coke^[26]
1981–1983: ^[27]
1983–1986: ^[28]
1986–1988: ^[29]
1988–1990: Hon. Edward Tollemache^[30]
1991–1994: ^[31]
1994–1996: ^[32]
1996–1999: Lord Eskdaill
1999–2002: Lord Maltravers
2002–2004:
2004–2008:
2008–2012:
2012–2015: Hon. Charles Armstrong-Jones^[33]
2015: Lachlan Legge-Bourke^[34]
c.2018: Xan Windsor, Lord Culloden^[35]

Second Page of Honour

1952–1954: ^[17]
1954–1956: Edward Adeane^[36]
1956–1957: Duncan Davidson
1957–1958:
1960–1962:
1962–1963: Viscount Ipswich
1963–1964:
1964–1966: Christopher Tennant
1966–1968:
1968–1969:
1969–1971:
1971–1973:
1973–1974:
1974–1976: Earl of Rocksavage
1976–1979: Charles Loyd
1979–1981: ^[26]
1981–1983: Marquess of Lorne
1983–1984: Hon. Hugh Crossley
1984–1988:
1988–1991:
1991–1995:
1995–1997: ^[37]
1997–2000: Lord Dunglass
2000–2004:
2004–2008:
2008–2012: Lord Stanley
2012–2015: Viscount Aithrie^[38]
2015–2019: Hon. Augustus Stanhope^[34]
2019–present: Lord Claud Hamilton^[39]

Third Page of Honour

1952–1953: ^[17]
1953–1955: ^[40]
1955–1956: John Aird
1956–1958:
1958–1961:
1961–1964:
1964–1966:
1966–1969: Nicholas Bacon
1969–1973: Hon. George Herbert
1973–1975:
1975–1976:
1976–1978:
1978–1979:
1979–1981:
1981–1984:
1984–1987:
1987–1989:
1989–1992:
1992–1995:
1995–1998: ^[37]
1998–2001:
2001–2004:
2005–2008:
2008–2009:
2009–2015: Arthur Chatto
2015-2018: Marquess of Lorne^[34]
2018–present: Robert Bruce^[41]

Fourth Page of Honour

1952–1953: ^[17]
1953–1956: ^[42]
1956–1957: Earl of Shelburne^[43]
1957–1959:
1959–1962: Charles Strachey
1962–1964:
1964–1966:
1966–1968: James Colville
1968–1971:
1971–1974:
1974–1977:
1977–1979: Viscount Althorp
1979–1980: ^[26]
1980–1982:
1982–1984: Marquess of Hamilton
1984–1988:
1988–1990:
1990–1993:
1993–1996:
1996–1998: Earl Percy
1998–2003: Lord Carnegie
2003–2006: Alexander William Malise Fraser
2006–2008: Henry Naylor
2008–2012:
2012–2016: ^[38]
2016-2018: Thomas Hallé
2018–present: Max Bowen^[41]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Dress and insignia worn at His Majesty's court, issued with the authority of the lord chamberlain". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
^ "Photo of Page of Honour attending to the Queen in Edinburgh". Flickr.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
^ Earl Marshal's Regulations (1937) quoted in Mansfield, A., Ceremonial Costume, London: A & C Black, 1980.
^ "Lt Colonel Charles Augustus West". Web.onetel.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
^ "No. 19275". The London Gazette. 2 June 1835. p. 1048.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 24506". The London Gazette. 25 September 1877. p. 5367.
^ "No. 27310". The London Gazette. 3 May 1901. p. 3033.
^ "No. 27466". The London Gazette. 19 August 1902. p. 5398.
^ "No. 38255". The London Gazette. 6 April 1948. p. 2215.
^ "No. 38804". The London Gazette. 3 January 1950. p. 59.
^ "No. 39430". The London Gazette. 1 January 1952. p. 69.
^ "No. 38097". The London Gazette. 14 October 1947. p. 4807.
^ "No. 39161". The London Gazette. 2 March 1951. p. 1104.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 37524". The London Gazette. 5 April 1946. p. 1743.
^ "No. 38729". The London Gazette. 4 October 1949. p. 4750.
^ "No. 39033". The London Gazette. 3 October 1950. p. 4919.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "No. 39616". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 August 1952. p. 4199.
^ "No. 40073". The London Gazette. 12 January 1954. p. 303.
^ "No. 40936". The London Gazette. 27 November 1956. p. 6727.
^ "No. 42610". The London Gazette. 27 February 1962. p. 1681.
^ "No. 43400". The London Gazette. 4 August 1964. p. 6607.
^ "No. 43834". The London Gazette. 7 December 1965. p. 11447.
^ "No. 44362". The London Gazette. 11 July 1967. p. 7641.
^ "No. 45140". The London Gazette. 30 June 1970. p. 7205.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 46848". The London Gazette. 12 March 1976. p. 3813.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "No. 47734". The London Gazette. 2 January 1979. p. 71.
^ "No. 48481". The London Gazette. 2 January 1981. p. 77.
^ "No. 49404". The London Gazette. 1 July 1983. p. 8697.
^ "No. 50474". The London Gazette. 1 April 1986. p. 4495.
^ "No. 51525". The London Gazette. 8 November 1988. p. 12509.
^ "No. 52647". The London Gazette. 3 September 1991. p. 13427.
^ "No. 53836". The London Gazette. 1 November 1994. p. 15279.
^ Walker, Tim (2012-03-01). "The Queen turns a page for Viscount Linley's son". Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Appendix to Court Circular, 27 February 2015
^ Court Circular, 18 June 2018
^ "No. 40063". The London Gazette. 1 January 1954. p. 98.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 54036". The London Gazette. 16 May 1995. p. 6949.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Appendix to Court Circular, 14 December 2012
^ Appendix to Court Circular, 30 June 2019
^ "No. 39822". The London Gazette. 10 April 1953. p. 1971.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Appendix to Court Circular, 13 July 2015
^ "No. 40008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 November 1953. p. 5921.
^ "No. 40733". The London Gazette. 16 March 1956. p. 1583.

[archive.org-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Dress and insignia worn at His Majesty's court, issued with the authority of the lord chamberlain". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-03-30.

[2] "Photo of Page of Honour attending to the Queen in Edinburgh". Flickr.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.

[3] Earl Marshal's Regulations (1937) quoted in Mansfield, A., Ceremonial Costume, London: A & C Black, 1980.

[4] "Lt Colonel Charles Augustus West". Web.onetel.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.

[G.19275_(2_June_1835)-5] "No. 19275". The London Gazette. 2 June 1835. p. 1048.

[G.24506_(25_September_1877)-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 24506". The London Gazette. 25 September 1877. p. 5367.

[7] "No. 27310". The London Gazette. 3 May 1901. p. 3033.

[8] "No. 27466". The London Gazette. 19 August 1902. p. 5398.

[9] "No. 38255". The London Gazette. 6 April 1948. p. 2215.

[10] "No. 38804". The London Gazette. 3 January 1950. p. 59.

[11] "No. 39430". The London Gazette. 1 January 1952. p. 69.

[12] "No. 38097". The London Gazette. 14 October 1947. p. 4807.

[13] "No. 39161". The London Gazette. 2 March 1951. p. 1104.

[5_April_1946-14] Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 37524". The London Gazette. 5 April 1946. p. 1743.

[15] "No. 38729". The London Gazette. 4 October 1949. p. 4750.

[16] "No. 39033". The London Gazette. 3 October 1950. p. 4919.

[ElizabethIIHousehold-17] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "No. 39616". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 August 1952. p. 4199.

[LG40073-18] "No. 40073". The London Gazette. 12 January 1954. p. 303.

[19] "No. 40936". The London Gazette. 27 November 1956. p. 6727.

[20] "No. 42610". The London Gazette. 27 February 1962. p. 1681.

[21] "No. 43400". The London Gazette. 4 August 1964. p. 6607.

[22] "No. 43834". The London Gazette. 7 December 1965. p. 11447.

[23] "No. 44362". The London Gazette. 11 July 1967. p. 7641.

[24] "No. 45140". The London Gazette. 30 June 1970. p. 7205.

[autogenerated1976-25] Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 46848". The London Gazette. 12 March 1976. p. 3813.

[LG47734-26] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "No. 47734". The London Gazette. 2 January 1979. p. 71.

[27] "No. 48481". The London Gazette. 2 January 1981. p. 77.

[28] "No. 49404". The London Gazette. 1 July 1983. p. 8697.

[29] "No. 50474". The London Gazette. 1 April 1986. p. 4495.

[30] "No. 51525". The London Gazette. 8 November 1988. p. 12509.

[LG52647-31] "No. 52647". The London Gazette. 3 September 1991. p. 13427.

[32] "No. 53836". The London Gazette. 1 November 1994. p. 15279.

[33] Walker, Tim (2012-03-01). "The Queen turns a page for Viscount Linley's son". Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-03-30.

[CC27122015-34] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Appendix to Court Circular, 27 February 2015

[35] Court Circular, 18 June 2018

[36] "No. 40063". The London Gazette. 1 January 1954. p. 98.

[ReferenceA-37] Jump up to: ^a ^b "No. 54036". The London Gazette. 16 May 1995. p. 6949.

[CC14122012-38] Jump up to: ^a ^b Appendix to Court Circular, 14 December 2012

[39] Appendix to Court Circular, 30 June 2019

[40] "No. 39822". The London Gazette. 10 April 1953. p. 1971.

[CC13072018-41] Jump up to: ^a ^b Appendix to Court Circular, 13 July 2015

[42] "No. 40008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 November 1953. p. 5921.

[43] "No. 40733". The London Gazette. 16 March 1956. p. 1583.

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