In the United Kingdom, Counsellors of State are senior members of the British royal family to whom the Monarch, presently Elizabeth II, delegates certain state functions and powers when she is abroad or unavailable for other reasons (such as short-term incapacity or sickness). Any two Counsellors of State may attend Privy Council meetings, sign state documents or receive the credentials of new ambassadors to the United Kingdom. While the establishment of a Regency carries with it the suspension of the monarch from the personal discharge of the royal functions, when Counsellors of State are appointed, both the Sovereign and the Counsellors can — the Counsellors within the limits of their delegation of authority — discharge the royal functions; so the monarch can give instructions to the Counsellors of State, or even personally discharge a certain royal prerogative, when the Consellors are in place. The Counsellors of State and Regents always act in the name and on behalf of the Sovereign. [edit] History The first Counsellors of State were created in 1911 by an order in council of George V, and this process was repeated on each occasion of the King's absence or incapacity. The Regency Act 1937 established in law those individuals that could serve as Counsellors of State. The Counsellors of State are the consort of the monarch and the first four people in the line of succession who meet the qualifications. These qualifications are the same as those for a regent: they must be at least 21 years old (unless s/he is the heir-apparent or presumptive, in which case the requirement is 18 years), they must be domiciled in the United Kingdom, and they must be a British citizen. One exception was made for Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (see below). Since the passage of the Regency Act 1937, the only person to have been a Counsellor of State while not a royal is The Earl of Harewood (although Princess Maud of Fife, who served as a Counsellor of State between 1942 and 1945, styled herself simply Lady Southesk); prior to that the Lord Chancellor, the Lord President of the Council, the Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Canterbury had been appointed to the position by George V. [edit] Present Currently, the Counsellors of State are: [edit] List of Counsellors of State The following is a list of all the people eilgible to have served as a Counsellor of State, since the passage of the Regency Act 1937, in chronological order. Prior to this, Counsellors were only appointed for specific trips and the appointment lapsed on the King's return. Note that this list contains the dates not of when they ruled, but when they actually held the position. - HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1937–1952, 1953–2002)[1]
- HRH The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1937–1974)
- HRH The Prince George, Duke of Kent (1937–1942)
- HRH The Princess Mary, Princess Royal (1937–1957)
- HRH Princess Arthur of Connaught (1937–1944)
- His Grace the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1942–1943) (never ruled)
- HH Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk (1943–1944)
- The Rt Hon. The Earl of Harewood (1944–1951, 1952–1956)
- HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Elizabeth II) (1944–1952)
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (1951–1985)
- HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (since 1952)
- HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (1956–1965)
- HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent (1957–1962)
- HRH Prince William of Gloucester (1962–1971)
- HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (1965–1966, 1974–1981)
- HRH The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (since 1966)
- HRH The Princess Anne, Princess Royal (1971–2003)
- HRH The Prince Andrew, Duke of York (since 1981)
- HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (1985–2005)
- HRH Prince William of Wales (since 2003)
- HRH Prince Henry of Wales (since 2005)
[edit] List of Councils of State Due to the brevity of King Edward's reign, there were no Councils under him. | Year and occasion/destination | Counsellors | 1939
 Canada
 United States | - HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Duke of Kent
- HRH The Princess Royal
- HRH Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife (Princess Arthur of Connaught)
Absences: The Queen accompanied the King on his trip. Notes: Since the Queen accompanied the King, she was technically not on the Council. However, she was listed among those in the Council. This created a problem, and was solved by the Regency Act 1943, which modified the Regency Act 1937, and said that if someone is absent and does not act as Counsellor, they will not be listed among the Counsellors. This occasion was the first rule of the Council of State under the provisions of the Regency Act 1937. | 1943
North Africa tour | - HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Princess Royal
- HRH Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife (Princess Arthur of Connaught)
- HH Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk
Notes: HRH The Princess Elizabeth, the heiress-presumptive, was soon to turn 18. She would have been allowed to reign in her own right or act as a regent to her father on her 18th birthday; however, she could not act in the Council of State until she was 21. This was also fixed by the Regency Act 1943. This was Princess Maud's only time as a Counsellor. | 1944
 Italy | - HRH The Princess Elizabeth
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Princess Royal
- HRH Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife (Princess Arthur of Connaught)
Notes: Though at this time, Viscount Lascelles should have been a Counsellor of State, he was a prisoner of war. The regular solution would be for him to simply be not included among the Counsellors. Nevertheless, Princess Arthur was made a replacement. This was Elizabeth II's first time helping to rule the country. | 1947
Tour of Africa | - HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Princess Royal
- Viscount Lascelles
Absences within Council: HM The Queen and HRH The Princess Elizabeth were with the King.
Notes: Lord Harewood's first time as a Counsellor of State. | 1951
King's illness | - HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh
- HRH The Princess Margaret
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Princess Royal
Notes: The King had planned to take a cruise with the Queen and Princess Margaret while Princess Elizabeth was on tour; however, this would have only left the Duke of Gloucester and the Princess Royal as Counsellors of State. There were plans to change the law so as to allow someone further down the succession to act as Counsellor of State, but the King died before the issue came up and the Regency Act 1953 did not make this rule. | [edit] 1950s and 1960s | Year and occasion/destination | Counsellors |  Commonwealth tour, 24 November 1953 – 10 May 1954 | | | - HRH The Princess Margaret
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Princess Royal
- The Rt Hon. The Earl of Harewood
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen.
Notes: First Council under Elizabeth II, first time the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was a Counsellor under the laws of the Regency Act 1953. | |  Nigeria 28 January –
16 February 1956 | - HRH The Princess Margaret
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Princess Royal
- The Rt Hon. The Earl of Harewood
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen. | |  Denmark 21 May – 23 May 1957 | - HRH The Princess Margaret
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH The Duke of Kent
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen.
Notes: This was the first time the 2nd Duke of Kent served as Counsellor of State. | | Commonwealth tour of Oceania, 2 February – 27 March 1963 | | | - HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH The Duke of Gloucester, HRH Prince William of Gloucester, and HRH The Duke of Kent were also absent.
Notes: Princess Margaret was scheduled to go on a trip to Paris; however, when it was noticed that her trip would leave only the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to rule the United Kingdom, and at least 2 of the Counsellors are needed to carry out royal duties, her trip was cancelled. | |  Canada 5 October – 13 October 1964 | - HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH Prince William of Gloucester and HRH The Duke of Kent were also absent. | |  West Germany 18 May – 28 May 1965 | - HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
- HRH Prince William of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH The Duke of Kent was also absent. | |  Canada 29 June – 5 July 1967 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH Prince William of Gloucester was also absent.
Notes: This was the Prince of Wales's first appointment. | |  Malta 14 November – 17 November 1967 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH Prince William of Gloucester was also absent. | |  Brazil 5 November – 11 November 1968 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH Prince William of Gloucester was also absent. |  Chile 11 November – 18 November 1968 | |  Austria 5 May – 10 May 1969 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon†
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH Prince William of Gloucester was also absent. † HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was also absent at some point. | | Year and occasion/destination | Counsellors |  Turkey 18 October – 25 October 1971 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Princess Anne were with the Queen. | | Tour of the Indian Ocean, 10 February – 26 March 1972 | | | - HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Princess Anne were with the Queen; HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon were also absent. | |  France 15 May – 19 May 1972 | - HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and HRH The Prince of Wales were also absent.
Notes: This was Princess Anne's first appointment as a Counsellor of State. | | | Canada 25 June – 5 July 1973 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Notes: This was the first trip on which the Queen went without the Duke of Edinburgh, who therefore stayed behind as a Counsellor of State. | |  Australia 17 October – 22 October 1973 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
| | Commonwealth tour of the South Pacific, 30 January – 28 February 1974 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
| | Tour of the Caribbean and Mexico, 16 February – 1 March 1975 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
| |  Finland 25 May – 28 May 1976 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
| | Tour of North America, 6 July – 25 July 1976 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Notes: In the Canadian portion of the tour, the Queen opened the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Princess Anne was a participant, part of the British equestrian team. The immediate Royal Family (the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and all four of their children) were all present for part of the games – the first time that they had all been together in one place outside the British Isles. Thus, the Duke, the Prince of Wales, and Princess Anne were unable to act as Counsellors during their respective absences of July. However, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and the Duke of Gloucester were all available for the duration of the tour. | |  Luxembourg 8 November – 12 November 1976 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
| | Commonwealth tour of North America, 14 October – 2 November 1977 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
| | | West Germany 22 May – 26 May 1978 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
| | | Canada 26 July – 6 August 1978 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Denmark 16 May – 19 May 1979 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of Africa, 19 July – 4 August 1979 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Year and occasion/destination | Counsellors |  Switzerland 29 April – 2 May 1980 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Australia 24 May – 28 May 1980 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Tour of North Africa, 21 October – 30 October 1980 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
- HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: Last council for the Duke of Gloucester | |  Norway 5 May – 8 May 1981 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: First time Prince Andrew served | | Commonwealth tour of Oceania & Sri Lanka, 26 September – 25 October 1981 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Canada 15 April – 18 April 1982 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of Oceania, 5 October – 1 November 1982 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of the Caribbean, 13 February – 17 February 1983 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Tour of North America, 8 March – March 1983 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of South Asia and East Africa, 9 November – 26 November 1983 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | 25 March – 30 March 1984 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Canada 24 September – 7 October 1984 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Princess Anne
- HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: Princess Margaret's last time on the council | |  Portugal 25 March – 29 March 1985 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Anne
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: Prince Edward's first time on the council | | Commonwealth tour of the Caribbean, 9 October – 3 November 1985 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Anne
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | 17 February – 13 March 1986 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Prince Andrew
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Anne
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Tour of East Asia, 12 October – 23 October 1986 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Anne
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Canada 9 October – 24 October 1987 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Australia 19 April – 10 May 1988 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Australia 17 October – 21 October 1988 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | |  Barbados 8 March – 11 March 1989 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of Southeast Asia, 9 October – 21 October 1989 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Year and occasion/destination | Counsellors | | Commonwealth tour of Australasia and Singapore, 1 February – 17 February 1990 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Tour of the North Atlantic, 25 June – 1 July 1990 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | |  United States
14 May – 17 May 1991 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of Southern Africa, 8 October – 19 October 1991 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Australia 18 February – 25 February 1992 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Malta 28 May – 30 May 1992 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | France 9 June – 12 June 1992 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Canada 30 June – 2 July 1992 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Germany 19 October – 23 October 1992 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | |  Hungary 4 May – 7 May 1993 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | |  Cyprus 18 October – 24 October 1993 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of the Caribbean, 18 February – 10 March 1994 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Canada 13 August – 22 August 1994 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | |  Russia 17 October – 20 October 1994 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | |  South Africa 19 March – 25 March 1995 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | |  New Zealand 30 October – 11 November 1995 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Tour of Eastern Europe, 25 March – 29 March 1996 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | |  Thailand 28 October – 1 November 1996 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | | Canada 23 June – 2 July 1997 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: HRH The Prince of Wales represent The Queen in the Hong Kong handover ceremony in the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour on the Indian subcontinent, 6 October – 18 October 1997 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour on the Indian subcontinent, 17 September – 23 September 1998 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: The Duke of Edinburgh was with The Queen; The Princess Royal departed for Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Mauritius on the evening of 21 September
Notes: | |  South Korea 19 April – 22 April 1999 | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Prince Edward
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: The Duke of Edinburgh was with The Queen.
Notes: | | Commonwealth tour of Africa, 7 November – 15 November 1999 | | | - HRH The Prince of Wales
- HRH The Duke of York
- HRH The Earl of Wessex
- HRH The Princess Royal
Absences within Council: The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen; The Duke of York was on a tour of the gulf until the evening of 11 November; The Earl of Wessex was in the USA until the evening of 10 November
Notes: | [edit] See also [edit] References - ^ When George VI died, Queen Elizabeth ceased to be queen consort, thus losing her position as Counsellor of State. However, the Regency Act 1953 made a special exception, including Queen Elizabeth as a Counsellor of State.
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