Wikipedia:

Counsellor of State

For Counsellor of State in France, see Conseiller d'État.

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.

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 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:

  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH Prince William of Wales
  3. HRH Prince Henry of Wales
  4. HRH The Duke of York

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.

List of Councils of State

George V

Year and occasion/destination Counsellors
1911
Flag of India India

Note: First Council of State
1925
Mediterranean cruise
1928–1929
King's illness
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Duke of York

Note: Lord Hailsham and Baldwin were replaced by Lord Sankey and MacDonald respectively in 1929 after the change of government.
1936
Near death
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Duke of York
  3. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  4. 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 Counsellors
1939
Flag of Canada Canada
Flag of the United States United States
  1. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  2. HRH The Duke of Kent
  3. HRH The Princess Royal
  4. 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 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
  1. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  2. HRH The Princess Royal
  3. HRH Princess Arthur of Connaught
  4. 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 could not 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
Flag of Italy Italy
  1. HRH The Princess Elizabeth
  2. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  3. HRH The Princess Royal
  4. 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
  1. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  2. HRH The Princess Royal
  3. 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
  1. HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh
  2. HRH The Princess Margaret
  3. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  4. 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.

Elizabeth II

Year and occasion/destination Counsellors
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour, 24 November 1953 – 10 May 1954
  1. HRH The Princess Margaret
  2. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  3. HRH The Princess Royal
  4. 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.
Flag of Nigeria Nigeria

28 January –
16 February 1956
  1. HRH The Princess Margaret
  2. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  3. HRH The Princess Royal
  4. The Rt Hon The Earl of Harewood

Absences within Council: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was with the Queen.
Flag of Denmark Denmark

21 May – 23 May 1957
  1. HRH The Princess Margaret
  2. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  3. HRH The Duke of Kent
  4. 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.
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour of Oceania, 2 February – 27 March 1963
  1. 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.
Flag of Canada Canada

5 October – 13 October 1964
  1. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  2. 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.
Flag of West Germany West Germany

18 May – 28 May 1965
  1. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  2. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
  3. 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.
Flag of Canada Canada

29 June – 5 July 1967
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  3. 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.
Flag of Malta Malta

14 November – 17 November 1967
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  3. 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.
Flag of Brazil Brazil

5 November – 11 November 1968
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  3. 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.
Flag of Chile Chile

11 November – 18 November 1968
Flag of Austria Austria

5 May – 10 May 1969
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon†
  3. 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.
Flag of Turkey Turkey

18 October – 25 October 1971
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  3. 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
  1. 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.
Flag of France France

15 May – 19 May 1972
  1. HRH The Princess Anne
  2. 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.
Flag of Canada Canada

25 June – 5 July 1973
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. 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.
Flag of Australia Australia

17 October – 22 October 1973
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour of the South Pacific, 30 January – 28 February 1974
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Tour of the Caribbean and Mexico, 16 February – 1 March 1975
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Flag of Finland Finland

25 May – 28 May 1976
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Tour of North America, 6 July – 25 July 1976
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. 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, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and the Duke of Gloucester were all available for the duration of the tour.
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg

8 November – 12 November 1976
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour of North America, 14 October – 2 November 1977
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Flag of West Germany West Germany

22 May – 26 May 1978
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Flag of Canada Canada

26 July – 6 August 1978
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Flag of Denmark Denmark

16 May – 19 May 1979
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour of Africa, 19 July – 4 August 1979
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland

29 April – 2 May 1980
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Flag of Australia Australia

24 May – 28 May 1980
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Tour of North Africa, 21 October – 30 October 1980
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Princess Anne
  3. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
  4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: Last council for the Duke of Gloucester
Flag of Norway Norway

5 May – 8 May 1981
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Prince Andrew
  3. HRH The Princess Anne
  4. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes: First time Prince Andrew served
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour of Oceania & Sri Lanka, 26 September – 25 October 1981
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Prince Andrew
  3. HRH The Princess Anne
  4. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Flag of Canada Canada

15 April – 18 April 1982
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Prince Andrew
  3. HRH The Princess Anne
  4. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour of Oceania, 5 October – 1 November 1982
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Prince Andrew
  3. HRH The Princess Anne
  4. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth tour of the Caribbean, 13 February – 17 February 1983
  1. HRH The Prince of Wales
  2. HRH The Prince Andrew
  3. HRH The Princess Anne
  4. HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Absences within Council: Unknown
Notes:
Tour of North America, 8 March – March 1983