The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen (or Financial Secretary to the King/Queen) is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The officeholder is assisted by the Deputy Treasurer to the King/Queen for the management of the Sovereign Grant, currently Sally O'Neill (formerly Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Opera House).

Lord Bloomfield as Keeper of the Privy Purse, carrying a ceremonial purse at the coronation of George IV in July 1821

The officeholder is also assisted by the Deputy Keeper of the Privy Purse for semi-private concerns, such as racing stables, the Royal Philatelic Collection, Royal Ascot, the Chapel Royal, the Page of Honour, Military Knights of Windsor, Royal Maundy, the Royal Victorian Order, grace and favour apartments, and the Duchy of Lancaster. These are funded from the Privy Purse, which is drawn largely from the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall.

The Keeper of the Privy Purse meets the Sovereign at least weekly. Among the duties is the allocation of grace and favour apartments at the royal palaces.[1] The current Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King is Sir Michael Stevens.

At coronations in recent centuries, the holders of this office have invariably carried a ceremonial purse, embroidered with the royal coat of arms.[2]

List of Keepers of the Privy Purse

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Henry VIII

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Edward VI

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Elizabeth I

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James I

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Charles I

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Charles II

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James II

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William III

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Anne

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George I

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  • Caspar Frederick Henning, 1714–1727

George II

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George III

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George IV

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William IV

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Victoria

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Edward VII

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George V

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George VI

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Elizabeth II

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Charles III

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Deputies

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Deputy Keepers

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This list is not complete.

Deputy Treasurers

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ “Window on my Heart”, Olave Baden-Powell, 1973, p. 201
  2. ^ The British Monarchy: The Privy Purse
  3. ^ Emerson, Kate. Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens.
  4. ^ a b Kinney. Titled Elizabethans: A Directory of Elizabethan Court, State, and Church.
  5. ^ a b Lemon, Robert. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reigns of Edward VI., Mary ...
  6. ^ "No. 28383". The London Gazette. 10 June 1910. p. 4073.
  7. ^ "No. 12258". The Edinburgh Gazette. 10 June 1910. p. 621.
  8. ^ "No. 34220". The London Gazette. 15 November 1935. p. 7224.
  9. ^ "No. 34306". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1936. p. 4663.
  10. ^ "No. 15301". The Edinburgh Gazette. 20 July 1936. p. 623.
  11. ^ "Sir Michael Peat to step down". The Daily Telegraph. London. 24 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Sir Alan Reid, the Queen's money man, to hand over Royal purse strings next year".
  13. ^ "Sir Alan Reid, the Queen's money man, to hand over Royal purse strings next year".