Gentleman Usher

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An officer of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom.

Gentlemen Ushers to The Queen are generally appointed from retired military, naval and air force officers (and occasionally civilians) for irregular and infrequent attendance at royal events. They are used for Garden Parties, and Investitures, where they act as ushers. Ushers, who are unpaid, retire at 70, when they may become Extra Gentlemen Ushers.

There are other Gentleman Ushers with specific appointments, such as the Gentleman Usher of the Sword of State. The only full-time Usher is the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, who attends on the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords, where he is the Serjeant-at-Arms. Before the Scottish Parliament was abolished in 1707 there was a Gentleman Usher of the White Rod with the same function.

Some orders of chivalry include gentlemen ushers as officers of the order. They are, in order of precedence:

• The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is the usher for the English Order of the Garter. At present this is Lieutenant General Sir Michael Willcocks KCB. (This is not to be confused with another Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, who was the usher for the Irish Order of St Patrick, which is obsolete and the office has long been vacant.)
• The Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod is the usher for the Scottish Order of the Thistle, presently Rear Admiral Christopher Hope Layman CB DSO LVO.
• The Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod is the usher for the British Order of the Bath. The present Scarlet Rod is Rear Admiral Iain Henderson CB CBE.
• The Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod is the usher for the British Order of St Michael and St George.
• The Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod is the usher for the Order of the British Empire.