Anthony Blackburn

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Vice-Admiral Sir David Anthony James Blackburn, KCVO, CB (born 1945) was a British naval officer and Member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Blackburn was educated at Taunton School, and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He joined the Royal Navy in 1963.

His first command was of the minesweeper HMS Kirkliston 1972-1973.

From 1976 to 1978 Blackburn was Equerry to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

He was Executive Officer of the cruiser HMS Antrim 1978-1981, after which he served in the Naval Staff of the Ministry of Defence in London until 1983.

In 1983-1984 he was a Commander and in command of the destroyer HMS Birmingham. He then returned to the Naval Staff of the Ministry of Defence in London, where he served until 1986. From 1987 to 1988 he was in command of the destroyer HMS York and Captain D3 Squadron. He then became Director Naval Manpower and Training (Seamen) (1988-1990), and then Commodore Clyde and Naval Base Commander Clyde 1990-1992. From 1992 to 1993 he was in command of the frigate HMS Cornwall and Captain F2 Squadron.

From 1994 to 1997 Blackburn was Defence Attache and Head of the British Defence Staff in Washington, and Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe, Naples, 1997 to 2000.

On leaving the Royal Navy Blackburn joined the Royal Household as Master of the Household, in which office he served 21 August 2000 to 2004.

He is an Extra Equerry to Her Majesty The Queen.

Blackburn was made a LVO in 1978, and a KCVO in 2004. He is also a CB.