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 Queen appoints Lord Lieutenants, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to be her 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 her people in the county.

The Queen in her capacity as ‘Head of the Nation’, in which she 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 Queen and her 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 Queen, 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 Queen 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.

 A significant number have died, both because of the Covid-19 disease and for other reasons, leaving loved ones mourning their loss.  Because of the characteristics of the disease, those who have lost members of their families, or their friends, have not been able to be with them when they died or been able to hold a proper funeral or memorial event, leaving jagged edges of grief which will be difficult to heal. Hertfordshire Lieutenancy sends it’s deepest sympathies and has opened a Book of Remembrance to honour these citizens.

You can view the book and submit a personal entry by clicking this button.

Book of Remembrance

Prince William has just made his first-ever appearance on a Ted Talk from Windsor Castle!

The Duke of Cambridge participated in  Countdown — TED’s first free and virtual conference dedicated to spreading awareness about global warming – to talk about climate change.

The Lord-Lieutenant discussed with the Chairs of the East and North and the West Herts NHS trusts together with the PAH trust in Harlow (which covers a large part of East Hertfordshire) and asked for their wish lists of most needed items, and he has now included the wish lists from the eight Hospices serving Hertfordshire.

Thank you for your much-needed support.

Full details can be found at: NHS Trusts and Hospices Wish Lists