Counsellor of State Totally Explained

Everything about Counsellor Of State totally explained

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's 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.

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 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 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 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.

Present

Currently, the Counsellors of State are:

List of Counsellors of State

The following is a list of all the people who 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)

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)

HH Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk (1942–1944)

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)

List of Councils of State

George V

Year and occasion/destination	ounsellors
1911	HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught The Rt Hon. and Most Rev The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury The Lord Chancellor, The Rt Hon. The Earl of Loreburn The Lord President of the Council, The Rt Hon. The Viscount Morley Note: First Council of State
1925 Mediterranean cruise	HRH The Prince Henry The Rt Hon. and Most Rev. The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury The Lord Chancellor, The Rt Hon. The Viscount Cave The Prime Minister, The Rt Hon. Stanley Baldwin
1928–1929 King's illness	HM The Queen HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York The Rt Hon. and Most Rev. The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury The Lord Chancellor The Rt Hon. The Lord Hailsham The Rt Hon. The Lord Sankey The Prime Minister The Rt Hon. Stanley Baldwin The Rt Hon. Ramsay MacDonald Note: Lord Hailsham and Baldwin were replaced by Lord Sankey and MacDonald respectively in 1929 after the change of government.
1936 Near death	HM The Queen HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Duke of Gloucester HRH The Duke of Kent

Edward VIII

Due to the brevity of King Edward's reign, there were no Councils under him.

George VI

Year and occasion/destination	ounsellors
1939	HM The Queen HRH The Duke of Gloucester HRH The Duke of Kent HRH The Princess Royal HRH 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 doesn't act as Counsellor, they won't 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	HM The Queen HRH The Duke of Gloucester HRH The Princess Royal HRH Princess Arthur of Connaught HH Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk (styled as Lady 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 couldn't act in the Council of State until she was 21. This was also fixed by the Regency Act 1943. This was Lady Southesk's only time as a Counsellor.
1944	HM The Queen HRH The Princess Elizabeth HRH The Duke of Gloucester HRH The Princess Royal HRH 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	HM The Queen 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 didn't make this rule.

Elizabeth II

1950s and 1960s

Year and occasion/destination	ounsellors
tour, 24 November 1953 – 10 May 1954
	HM The Queen Mother 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 Mother was a Counsellor under the laws of the Regency Act 1953.

28 January – 16 February 1956	HM The Queen Mother 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.

21 May – 23 May 1957	HM The Queen Mother 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.
tour of Oceania, 2 February – 27 March 1963
	HM The Queen Mother 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 Mother to rule the United Kingdom, and at least 2 of the Counsellors are needed to carry out royal duties, her trip was cancelled.

5 October – 13 October 1964	HM The Queen Mother 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.

18 May – 28 May 1965	HM The Queen Mother 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.

29 June – 5 July 1967	HM The Queen Mother 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.

14 November – 17 November 1967	HM The Queen Mother 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.

5 November – 11 November 1968	HM The Queen Mother 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.
11 November – 18 November 1968

5 May – 10 May 1969	HM The Queen Mother 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.

1970s

Year and occasion/destination	ounsellors
18 October – 25 October 1971	HM The Queen Mother 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
	HM The Queen Mother 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.

15 May – 19 May 1972	HM The Queen Mother 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.

25 June – 5 July 1973	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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.

17 October – 22 October 1973	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Princess Anne HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon HRH The Duke of Gloucester
tour of the South Pacific, 30 January – 28 February 1974
Norfolk Island New Hebrides Solomon Islands	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Princess Anne HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon HRH The Duke of Gloucester

25 May – 28 May 1976	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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'd 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, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and the Duke of Gloucester were all available for the duration of the tour.

8 November – 12 November 1976	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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, 14 October – 2 November 1977
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Princess Anne HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon HRH The Duke of Gloucester

22 May – 26 May 1978	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Princess Anne HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon HRH The Duke of Gloucester

26 July – 6 August 1978	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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:

16 May – 19 May 1979	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Africa, 19 July – 4 August 1979
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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:

1980s

Year and occasion/destination	ounsellors
29 April – 2 May 1980	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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:

24 May – 28 May 1980	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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

5 May – 8 May 1981	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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
tour of Oceania & Sri Lanka, 26 September – 25 October 1981
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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:

15 April – 18 April 1982	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Oceania, 5 October – 1 November 1982
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 the Caribbean, 13 February – 17 February 1983
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 South Asia and East Africa, 9 November – 26 November 1983
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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:

24 September – 7 October 1984	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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

25 March – 29 March 1985	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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
tour of the Caribbean, 9 October – 3 November 1985
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Anne Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

9 October – 24 October 1987	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

19 April – 10 May 1988	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

17 October – 21 October 1988	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

8 March – 11 March 1989	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Southeast Asia, 9 October – 21 October 1989
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

1990s

Year and occasion/destination	ounsellors
tour of Australasia and Singapore, 1 February – 17 February 1990
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

14 May – 17 May 1991	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Southern Africa, 8 October – 19 October 1991
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

18 February – 25 February 1992	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

28 May – 30 May 1992	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

9 June – 12 June 1992	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

30 June – 2 July 1992	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

19 October – 23 October 1992	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

4 May – 7 May 1993	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

18 October – 24 October 1993	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Caribbean, 18 February – 10 March 1994
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

13 August – 22 August 1994	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

17 October – 20 October 1994	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

19 March – 25 March 1995	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

30 October – 11 November 1995	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother 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 Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

28 October – 1 November 1996	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:

23 June – 2 July 1997	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:
tour on the Indian subcontinent, 6 October – 18 October 1997
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: *Unknown* Notes:
tour on the Indian subcontinent, 17 September – 23 September 1998
	HM The Queen Mother 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 his wife; The Princess Royal departed for Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Mauritius on the evening of 21 September Notes:

19 April – 22 April 1999	HM The Queen Mother HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Duke of York HRH The Prince Edward HRH The Princess Royal Absences within Council: The Queen was accompanied by Prince Philip Notes:
tour of Africa, 7 November – 15 November 1999
	HM The Queen Mother 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:

2000s

Year and occasion/destination	ounsellors
17 March &#