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The Gold Stick and the Silver Stick are formal bodyguard positions in the British Royal Household, serving as personal attendants to the Sovereign on ceremonial occasions.
Gold Stick
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Although now only in evidence on ceremonial and state occasions, the office of Gold Stick dates from Tudor times, when two officers were placed close to the Sovereign's person to protect him or her from danger. The office is held jointly by the Colonels of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, the two regiments of the Household Cavalry. The Gold Sticks, of whom one at any time is on duty as Gold Stick-in-Waiting, were originally entrusted with the personal safety of the Sovereign. Since the reign of Queen Victoria these officers' duties have been mainly ceremonial; they attend all state occasions and take part in the processions for the Coronation and the State Opening of Parliament. On these occasions, Gold Stick conveys the Sovereign's orders to the Household Cavalry. The name derives from the staff of office, which has a gold head.
Anne, Princess Royal, the daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and younger sister of King Charles III, became Colonel of the Blues and Royals in 1998. Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne became Colonel of the Life Guards in 2019.
Silver Stick
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The Silver Stick is the Commander of the Household Cavalry and holds the rank of colonel. Silver Stick-in-Waiting is the deputy (assistant) to Gold Stick-in-Waiting, but there are occasions when Silver Stick only is summoned for duty—for example, on the arrival of a head of state on a state visit.
The office was created in 1678, and until 1950 was held by the lieutenant-colonels in command of the Household Cavalry regiments, serving by monthly rotation. Originally, only the 1st and 2nd Life Guards were included, but in 1820 the Royal Horse Guards were added (the 1st and 2nd Life Guards were amalgamated together in 1922 and the Royal Horse Guards were amalgamated with the Royal Dragoons to form the Blues and Royals in 1969).
Now the (Colonel) Commander Household Cavalry holds the office alone. Through the authority of the Gold Stick he has the detail of regiments and individuals to carry out royal duties. In general, the Silver Stick has charge of all ceremonial duties for the Sovereign.
Silver Stick's principal aide when on duty is termed Silver Stick Adjutant.
Scotland
There are separate Gold and Silver Sticks in Scotland, who are the senior officers of the Sovereign's Bodyguard of the Royal Company of Archers.
References
- Paget, J. (1989). Discovering London Ceremonial & Traditions. Discovering series. Shire. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-85263-994-8. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
From this royal order date the offices of the Gold Stick-in-Waiting and the Silver Stick-in-Waiting. The latter is a serving officer, while Gold Stick is a senior retired officer who appears only on State occasions but then takes precedence over all ...
- Gordon, L.L.; Nicholson, J.B.R. (1971). Military origins. Kaye and Ward. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7182-0876-9. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
It was their duty to attend the Sovereign on all ceremonial occasions. They did duty for alternate months and whilst so doing were styled 'Gold Stick in Waiting'. The field officer of the same regiment as the colonel doing duty was known as 'Silver Stick in Waiting'. The colonel of the Royal Horse Guards was added to the duty ...
- Allison, R.; Riddell, S. (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. Macmillan Press. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-333-53810-4. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
Gold Stick and Silver Stick These court appointments date from Tudor times, when two officers were placed close to the Sovereign's person to protect him or her from danger. Their name derives from their staff's of office, which have a gold or a ...
- "Blues and Royals – Regiment History, War & Military Records & Archives". forces-war-records.co.uk.
- Court Circular, 7 June 2019.
- Court Circular, 17 June 2023
- Watson, J.N.P. (1997). Through Fifteen Reigns: A Complete History of the Household Cavalry. Spellmount. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-873376-70-6. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
The Silver Stick in Waiting The Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Household Cavalry holds the office of Silver Stick in Waiting, an appointment in the Royal Household. In the absence of the Gold Stick in Waiting he assumes his duties and ...
- White-Spunner, B. (2006). Horse Guards. Macmillan. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-4050-5574-1. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
The second development was the King's insistence, after the events of 1678 and the hysteria engendered by Titus Oates, a populist ... or truncheon, with a gold head, engraved with His Majesty's cypher and crown', and was subsequently called the 'Gold Stick-in-Waiting'. ... Officer, with an ebony staff and silver head', afterwards styled the 'Silver Stick-in-Waiting', 'who is ready to relieve the Captain on ...