Royal Communications

Royal Communications is a branch of the Private Secretary's Office of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom responsible for media relations and communicating with various organisations and authorities on matters to do with The King and the Royal Family. Until early 2014, Royal Communications was known as the Royal Household Press Office.

The head of Royal Communications is the Communications Secretary to the King and Queen. The post is currently held by [https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/tobyn-andreae-royal-communications-secretary-daily-mail Tobyn Andreae].

Communications Secretaries

In 2014, the press offices of members of the Royal Family merged for a time at Buckingham Palace, though individual Communications Secretaries for members of the Royal Family were retained. Those members of the Royal Family who do not have their own Communications Secretaries are represented by that of the King and Queen.

The current Communications Secretaries within the Royal Household are:

  • Tobyn Andreae (Communications Secretary to the King and Queen){{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Ellie |title=King Charles Hired A Former Top Editor At The Tabloids That Published Critical Kate Middleton Columns And The Story That Was An Impetus For The Breakdown Of Meghan Markle’s Relationship With Her Father |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/tobyn-andreae-royal-communications-secretary-daily-mail |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en}}
  • Lee Thompson (Communications Secretary to the Prince and Princess of Wales){{Cite web |date=2022-06-11 |title=Kate Middleton and Prince William make big change to Kensington Palace operations - details |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20220611142663/kate-middleton-prince-william-hire-lee-thompson-details/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=HELLO! |language=en}}

Former Communications Secretaries:

  • Donal McCabe{{cite web |date=2019-02-20|last1=Richardson |first1=Hollie |title=The Queen makes an important new addition to her team |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2019022070017/the-queen-appoints-new-communications-secretary/ |website=HELLO! |access-date=5 October 2024}}

Former Press Office positions

= Director of Royal Communications (2014–2018) =

• Sally Osman 2014–2018

= The Queen's Media Secretary (2016–2018) =

• Steve Kingstone 2016–2018

= List of Communications & Press Secretary to The Queen =

  • James Roscoe 2013–2017
  • Ailsa Anderson 2010–2013
  • Samantha Cohen 2007–2010
  • Miss Penelope Russell-Smith2002–07

= List of Deputy Press Secretary to The Queen =

  • Steve Kingstone 2013–2016
  • James Roscoe 2012–2013
  • Ed Perkins 2010–2012
  • Ailsa Anderson 2007–2010
  • Samantha Cohen2003–2007
  • Penelope Russell-Smith 1998–2002
  • Geoffrey Crawford 1993–1997
  • John Haslam 1988–1993

=List of Communications Secretaries (1998–2002)=

=List of Press Secretaries to the Sovereign (1918–2002)=

vacant 1931–1944

=List of Assistant Press Secretaries to the Sovereign=

  • 1947–1957: Alexander Hood
  • 1958–1981: Anne Hawkins (Wall from 1975)
  • 1959–1960: Joseph Bennet Odunton{{cite news |last=Marz |first=Blaine |date=1959-05-15 |title=Queen Elizabeth Appoints Negro |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21469972/the_times/ |work=The Times |access-date=2018-09-03}}{{cite book |last=Kay |first=Ernest |date=1970 |title=Dictionary of African biography|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofafri00kaye |url-access=registration }}{{cite news |date=1959-06-10 |title=Mr. Odunton of Ghana makes Palace history |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/44023293 |work=Trove |access-date=2018-09-03}}{{cite journal |title=The Times Cuttings: Africa West |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZYPAQAAMAAJ&q=odunton |publisher=University Microfil|date=1958}}
  • 1965–1967: William Heseltine
  • 1970–1974: Lawrence Bryant
  • 1982–1987: Vic Chapman

References