Privy chamber

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For the section of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, see Privy Chamber.

A privy chamber was a private apartment in a royal residence, particularly in England. The gentlemen of the privy chamber were servants to the Crown, who were to wait and attend on the King and Queen at Court, in their various activities and diversions.

Six of these were appointed by the Lord Chamberlain, together with a peer, and the Master of Ceremonies, to attend to all ambassadors from crowned heads in their public entries.

Their institution was owed to King Henry VII. As a singular mark of favor, they were empowered to execute the King's verbal command without producing any written order; their person and character being deemed sufficient authority.

This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.