Protocols & FAQs

For The King – Your Majesty on the first occasion and Sir  thereafter. For  female members of the family who hold the title Her Royal Highness – Your Royal Highness on the first occasion and then Ma’am (said as in "jam"). For male members of the Royal Family holding the title His Royal Highness – Your Royal Highness on the first occasion and Sir thereafter.

Bowing and curtseying are entirely optional. 

This is optional, although hats do tend to be worn on more formal occasions. If you are expected to wear a hat you will be told so. 

The appointment is not for a fixed period. Lord-Lieutenants serve until their 75th birthday. 

The Sovereign, on the recommendation of the First Minister and the Prime Minister, appoints Lord-Lieutenants. The opinions of a wide range of citizens in the county are taken before the First Minister and Prime Minister advise The King on possible appointees. 

Lord-Lieutenants are not paid and receive minimal allowances. 

The Lord-Lieutenant, with the ‘non-disapproval’ of the Sovereign, appoints individuals, living within East Lothian, as Deputy Lieutenants to assist him in carrying out his duties on behalf of the Crown.  

The correct form of address for the Lord-Lieutenant:

Written: Mr Roderick M Urquhart, WS, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of East Lothian

Salutation: Dear Lord-Lieutenant

In a Speech: In the preamble, the Lord-Lieutenant should be referred to as ‘Lord-Lieutenant’. A speech might begin ‘Lord-Lieutenant, Ladies and Gentlemen…’

Conversation: Should be initially addressed as ‘Lord-Lieutenant’ and thereafter by name.

If the Lord-Lieutenant is represented by a Deputy Lieutenant, the above etiquette should be adapted accordingly ie ‘Dear Deputy Lieutenant’. A speech might begin ‘Deputy Lieutenant, Ladies and Gentlemen…’

At funerals, the Lord-Lieutenant or his representative (unless attending in a personal capacity) always enters the church last (two minutes before the start of the service and before the coffin) and always leaves straight after the family. For other church services, the Lord-Lieutenant or his representative enters last and leaves first. The usual arrangement is for the Lord-Lieutenant to be seated at the front of the nave on the south side. For funerals, if the family is on the south side, the Lord-Lieutenant sits on the north side at the front and on the aisle edge.

Seating in general at other functions, the Lord-Lieutenant should be seated in the same place as you would seat a member of the Royal Family – as the principal guest.

Issues relating to protocol and precedence can be clarified in consultation with the Lord-Lieutenant’s office.