Peter St Clair-Erskine, 7th Earl of Rosslyn, CVO QPM (born 31 March 1958), known professionally as Peter Loughborough, is a Scottish peer and police officer. He is Lord Steward of the Royal Household and Personal Secretary to Their Majesties, as well as a former Metropolitan Police Commander. The Earl's lands include Rosslyn Chapel.
The Earl of Rosslyn | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Lord Steward of the Household | |
| Assumed office 22 February 2023 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Dalhousie |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| as a hereditary peer 22 November 1977 – 11 November 1999 | |
| Preceded by | The 6th Earl of Rosslyn |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| as an elected hereditary peer 11 November 1999 | |
| Election | 1999 |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter St Clair-Erskine 31 March 1958 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Crossbencher |
| Spouse |
Helen Watters (m. 1982) |
| Children | James St Clair-Erskine, Lord Loughborough Lady Alice St Clair-Erskine The Hon. Harry St Clair-Erskine Lady Lucia St Clair-Erskine |
| Parent(s) | Anthony St Clair-Erskine, 6th Earl of Rosslyn Athenais de Mortemart |
| Occupation | Courtier, police officer |
Background and education
editLord Rosslyn was educated at Ludgrove School, Eton College and the University of Bristol.[1][2] He inherited his titles in 1977, and took his seat in the House of Lords on 15 January 1980.[3] Ahead of the passage of the House of Lords Act 1999 which excluded most hereditary peers he was elected as one of the 28 peers in the Crossbench group who were to remain in the House of Lords.[4]
As of 2022, in 43 years in the House of Lords he had only spoken once and voted five times, each in relation to reform of the Lords.[5]
Career
editRosslyn joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1980 on the recommendation of his third cousin Lord Strathnaver,[2] a former detective and heir apparent of the 24th Countess of Sutherland. He reached the rank of chief inspector in the 1990s. In 1994 he led the undercover Operation Troodos, a successful crackdown on drug dealers in west London, including the drug supplier of the Marquess of Blandford, later Duke of Marlborough.[6] From 2003 to 2014, he was head of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department (since amalgamated into Protection Command). He received the Queen's Police Medal in the 2009 New Year Honours and was reputedly the Queen's "favourite policeman".[7]
In March 2014, Lord Rosslyn was appointed as Master of the Household to The Prince of Wales, and The Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House.[2]
On 29 September 2014, Lord Rosslyn was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) upon relinquishing his appointment as Head of Royalty and Specialist Protection Department.[8]
On 22 February 2023, he was appointed Lord Steward of the Household, succeeding the 17th Earl of Dalhousie, and Personal Secretary to Their Majesties by Charles III.[9] In this role, he took part in the 2023 Coronation.[10]
Family
editHe married Helen Watters in 1982 and they have two sons and two daughters, including actress Lady Alice St Clair-Erskine.[11]
Lady Rosslyn runs the London Original Print Fair.[12]
Honours
edit
| Country | Date | Appointment | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6 February 2002 | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
|
||
| United Kingdom | 2009 New Year Honours | Queen's Police Medal |
|
QPM | Distinguished Service |
| United Kingdom | 6 February 2012 | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
|
||
| United Kingdom | 29 September 2015 | Commander of the Royal Victorian Order | 
|
CVO | |
| United Kingdom | 6 February 2022 | Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal |
|
||
| United Kingdom | 6 May 2023 | King Charles III Coronation Medal |
|
||
| United Kingdom | Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal |
|
References
edit- ^ Barber, Richard (2004). The Story of Ludgrove. Oxford: Guidon Publishing. p. 259. ISBN 0-9543617-2-5.
- ^ a b c "Charles and Camilla appoint police chief to Household". The Daily Telegraph. 1 April 2014.
- ^ HL Deb (15 January 1980) vol. 404, col. 1.
- ^ Dod's Parliamentary Companion 2000. Westminster: Vacher Dod Publishing Ltd. 2000. p. 361.
- ^ "Evgeny Lebedev's 1% attendance makes him among least active in House of Lords". The Guardian. 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Old Etonian earl in charge of royal protection likely to be centre of inquiry". The Guardian. 24 June 2003.
- ^ "No. 58929". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2008. p. 25.
- ^ "No. 61020". The London Gazette. 15 October 2014. p. 19954.
- ^ "Court Circular: February 22, 2023". The Times. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (2010). Dod's Parliamentary Companion. Vol. 178. Dod's Parliamentary Companion Ltd. p. 845. ISBN 978-0-905702-89-6.
- ^ "Among friends: Inside the new King and Queen Consort's inner circle". Tatler. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
External links
edit- Profile at the Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at PublicWhip.org
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
- Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Rosslyn