What is a Lord Lieutenant?
Scottish Lord-Lieutenants are appointed by The King on the advice of the First Minister for each area of Scotland, except for the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, where the Lord Provosts serve as ex-officio Lord Lieutenants.
The current Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty is Mrs Joanie Whiteford.
Mrs Whiteford was appointed in July 2019, succeeding Mrs Janet Bowen CVO.
Role of the Lord-Lieutenant
The Lord-Lieutenant acts as The King's representative in the county. The role is unpaid and non-political, with origins in the military, dating back to Henry VIII’s reign when they were responsible for maintaining order and local defence. Although the military aspect has largely diminished, Lord-Lieutenants remain connected through associations with Volunteer Reserve Forces, and other uniformed organisations such as Fire, Police, and Ambulance services, as well as local voluntary bodies, Cadet Forces, and youth organisations. In Scotland, the direct link with the magistracy ended in 2007.
The Lord-Lieutenant promotes harmony and community spirit by encouraging voluntary service, supporting benevolent organisations, and engaging actively in the social, industrial, and business life of the county and its voluntary activities.
As the personal representative of His Majesty, the Lord-Lieutenant’s primary duty is to uphold the dignity of the Crown. Specific functions include:
- organising all Royal visits to Ross and Cromarty and escorting Royal visitors
- representing The King, including duties related to the armed forces and presenting honours, medals, and awards
- coordinating with local units of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, Royal Air Force, and their cadet forces
- encouraging and evaluating nominations for Honours and The King's Award for Voluntary Service
- reporting local issues to The King’s Private Office, particularly when Royal visits are planned
- participating in civic, voluntary, and social activities within the area