Have you ever thought about nominating someone for a national honour?  Hertfordshire’s Lord-Lieutenant Robert Voss CBE CStJ is hoping that you will.  He is keen to promote the use of national honours to recognise the important work undertaken by the County’s individuals.  He said, “There are are many, many Hertfordshire citizens who contribute significantly as volunteers in the community and it is really important that their activities are recognised.  It is not an issue of lowering the bar for the issuing of honours but taking the trouble to recognise the often sterling work that is being done by volunteers.”

He explained that anyone can nominate someone for a national honour (although one can’t nominate oneself!)  The ideal candidate would be someone who has achieved notable success in public life, dedicated themselves to serving the nation, or made a positive difference within the local community. These individuals are typically those who have improved the lives of others or excelled in their field.

To nominate someone, a nomination pack is available on the official Government website (https://www.gov.uk/honours), along with detailed instructions.  Nominations must be supported by at least two reference letters, and after submission, the process requires patience as it can take several years for a nomination to be reviewed and processed. The nomination pack can also be found on the Hertfordshire Lieutenancy website (https://lord-lieutenant-herts.org.uk/honours-and-awards/nominating-someone-for-an-honour/), which provides further guidance on how to complete the application.

Robert Voss summarised, “I encourage you to think about nominating those who have made remarkable contributions to our community.  There are many Hertfordshire residents whose exceptional efforts deserve recognition, and it’s important that their hard work is acknowledged.”

Welcome to the Hertfordshire Lieutenancy. This website seeks to inform and update you on the role of our Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Robert Voss CBE CStJ, and the ways in which the Lieutenancy supports and impacts on the life of this county. Hertfordshire is a vibrant, dynamic yet diverse county whose motto is: “Trust and Fear Not”.

Lord-Lieutenants were first appointed by King Henry VIII in the 1500s to assume the military duties of the Sheriff. Today, the King appoints Lord Lieutenants, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to be his representative in their counties. Her Majesty The Queen appointed Mr Robert Voss CBE CStJ as her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Hertfordshire to succeed The Countess of Verulam who stepped down on 31 July 2017.

The Lord-Lieutenant upholds the dignity of the Crown and serves the community. Supported by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and by other Deputy Lieutenants, Robert Voss is the main link between the Monarch and his people in the county.

The King in his capacity as ‘Head of the Nation’, in which he acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence, and supports the ideal of voluntary service and community integration. Robert Voss gives his time voluntarily to the role and helps promote and encourage voluntary and charitable organisations, local businesses, arrange visits from the Royal Family, attend civic and social activities, support the work with the Armed Forces, take part in the honours’ system and appoint appropriate Vice and Deputy Lieutenants.

While the Lieutenancy’s role has evolved over time, much like that of the Monarchy’s, its purpose in supporting the Crown remains. The King and his Government expect certain duties of the Lord-Lieutenant. These duties may broadly be classified as being: (i) to assist with visits by Members of the Royal Family; (ii) to promote, encourage and validate nominations for national honours and awards, and to present certain honours, medals and awards on behalf of The King, notably, these include British Empire Medals, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) and the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise (QAE); (iii) to liaise with and support local units of the Armed Forces and associated Cadet Forces; and (iv) to lead the local magistracy as Co-chair of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Advisory Committee for Magistrates, with the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire.

In addition to these duties, the Lord-Lieutenant will follow the example of The King and other members of the Royal Family in seeking generally to promote a spirit of co-operation through the encouragement he gives to voluntary service, and to benevolent organisations, and by the interest he takes in the business, industrial, community and social life of the County, and of its affairs generally.

You are invited to use this website to familiarise yourself with the workings of the Hertfordshire Lieutenancy and the way in which it can act as a conduit for you to the Royal Family, the Honours System, Queen’s Awards and congratulatory messages.

For a full description of the Lieutenancy click here.

The Lord-Lieutenant’s mission statement is: To take the Lieutenancy to the people of Hertfordshire.

The Inter Faith Panel exists to foster contact and friendship between the many different faiths represented in Hertfordshire.  It organises outings to different places of worship in order to establish a greater understanding of the different approaches to religion. The visits have included Churches, Mosques, Temples, and Monasteries. The last event was a gathering hosted by the Krishna devotees at their manor in Bushey.

Lieutenancy Panels

Do you know a local volunteer group worthy of recognition for the King’s Award?

We Want to Celebrate:

Award Process:

Read the full details here