118:
well paid. Their role was sufficiently important that individuals with this role can be identified in records from the reigns of kings John, Henry III, and the first three
Edwards. They carried messages around England and to other countries on behalf of the government. They were the primary means for communication with local officials such as sheriffs and mayors and travelled in circuits so that the King and his staff had regular updates on the actions that had been commanded. They also sometimes transported money or valuables around the country. The number employed was between 30 and 60.
49:
142:
101:, and for reasons of state secrecy, the diplomatic bag does not go through normal airport baggage checks and must not be opened, X-rayed, weighed, or otherwise investigated by customs of a foreign state, airline security staff or anyone else. The only exception is if there is serious evidence that it might contain materials prohibited or controlled by quarantine in the destination state. The Kingâs Messenger has the status of a
1422:
56:
1434:
129:
appointed four trusted men to convey messages to
Royalist forces in England. As a sign of their authority, the King broke four silver greyhounds from a bowl familiar to royal courtiers, and gave one to each man. A silver greyhound thus became the symbol of the Service. On formal occasions, the King's
117:
The formal role and title âRoyal
Messengerâ, whether to King or Queen, is most certainly evident within the retinues of the English monarchy, certainly extending back to the early 12th century. They were termed 'Nuncii' or 'Cursores', depending on whether they travelled by horse or foot, and were
38:
166:
suggested that the Queen's
Messenger service was "facing the chop by cost-cutting Foreign Office mandarins who see them as a legacy of a by-gone age". However the service continues, as part of the secure logistics operation of
475:
152:
Modern communications have diminished the role of the King's
Messengers, but as original confidential documents still need to be conveyed securely between countries, their function remains valuable, but declining.
160:
put the number of
Messengers then at 27. The number in March 2015 was sixteen full-time and two part-time, and the departmental headcount was nineteen. In December 2015 an article in the
1465:
472:
451:
564:
82:(FCDO). They hand-carry secret and important documents to British embassies, high commissions, and consulates around the world. Many Kingâs Messengers were retired
776:
391:
203:
533:
79:
258:
109:
has the right to examine UK diplomatic bags. The messenger and the messenger's personal luggage can be required to go through normal security screening.
287:
503:
98:
913:
1470:
130:
Messengers wear this badge from a ribbon, and on less formal occasions male messengers wear ties with a discreet greyhound pattern while working.
105:
and cannot be detained by foreign governments. British diplomatic bags and Kingâs
Messengers do not benefit from these immunities in the UK, and
31:
310:
King's
Messengers 1199-1377: A List of All Known Messengers, Mounted and Unmounted, who Served John, Henry III, and the First Three Edwards
728:
625:
595:
443:
1378:
809:
60:
421:
1407:
317:
157:
556:
966:
383:
701:
48:
1460:
1395:
525:
357:
1385:
1030:
771:
247:
222:
283:
1138:
902:
849:
833:
822:
788:
721:
495:
1233:
122:
870:
175:
126:
1437:
141:
1319:
1203:
1193:
1088:
1002:
907:
1294:
1254:
1198:
1168:
1143:
1133:
1108:
1078:
924:
919:
783:
1425:
1352:
1314:
1309:
1289:
1284:
1279:
1264:
1228:
1123:
1098:
1093:
1037:
954:
934:
714:
349:
198:
102:
59:
Badges of King's or Queenâs
Messengers from 18th to 20th centuries, seen in an exhibition at the
929:
1357:
1325:
1259:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1163:
1153:
1148:
1113:
1103:
1057:
1042:
865:
313:
617:
1390:
1274:
1208:
1128:
1118:
1073:
1052:
1025:
1017:
212:
41:
685:
1373:
1304:
1178:
982:
828:
587:
496:"Queen's Messengers face the axe, heroes who resisted all tyrants, honeytraps and pirates"
479:
121:
A noted 15th-century King's
Messenger was John Norman, who was appointed in 1485 by King
37:
1299:
1269:
1158:
1007:
94:
87:
17:
1454:
1183:
1173:
882:
877:
692:
413:
168:
162:
83:
55:
44:
of the Queenâs Messenger travelling on official business (not issued after 2014).
1402:
1249:
1083:
186:
1331:
893:
804:
1347:
1012:
737:
284:"DIPPRIV1100 - Diplomatic Privileges Manual - HMRC internal manual - GOV.UK"
659:
From Pouch to Passport: A History of Kings & Queens Messenger Insignia.
706:
1047:
741:
353:
337:
218:
was carrying Mr Herbert, a King's Messenger, at the time of its sinking.
75:
133:
In 1824 the messengers became a formal part of the UK Foreign Office.
1188:
814:
588:"DNA clues reveal 55-year-old secrets behind crash of the Star Dust"
483:
Letter from Foreign & Commonwealth Office, dated 27 April 2015
140:
54:
47:
36:
209:
was carrying a King's Messenger at the time of its disappearance.
106:
710:
557:"What is the Royal Train? And everything else you want to know"
148:
diesel locomotive seen at Bristol Temple Meads station in 2008
652:
King's Messenger, 1918-1940, Memoirs of a Silver Greyhound.
86:
personnel. Messengers generally travel in plain clothes in
473:
Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request Ref: FOI Ref: 0315
30:"Silver Greyhound" redirects here. For other uses, see
242:
240:
125:
to hand-deliver secret documents. During his exile,
1366:
1340:
1242:
1066:
995:
975:
947:
891:
858:
842:
797:
764:
755:
748:
185:King's Messengers have been officially ratified by
248:"Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961"
90:on scheduled airlines with their consignment.
384:"The Silver Greyhound - The Messenger Service"
722:
338:"The King's Messengers in England, 1199â1377"
8:
1466:Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
80:Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
97:is guaranteed by Articles 27 and 36 of the
761:
752:
729:
715:
707:
650:Antrobus, George Pollock, and Cecil Hunt.
331:
329:
74:during the reign of a female monarch) are
99:Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
377:
375:
236:
178:diesel locomotive 67005 bears the name
675:. London: Grayson & Grayson, 1935.
494:Giannangeli, Marco (5 December 2015).
914:Conseiller chargé des investissements
7:
1433:
702:FCDO link for the Queen's Messengers
673:The History of the King's Messengers
661:Mandurah, W.A.: DB Publishing, 2009.
555:Lockwood, Tasmin (7 December 2020).
506:from the original on 20 October 2023
598:from the original on 26 August 2013
394:from the original on 9 October 2015
628:from the original on 18 April 2021
586:Bowcott, Owen (6 September 2002).
567:from the original on 18 April 2021
454:from the original on 18 April 2015
424:from the original on 17 April 2021
360:from the original on 18 April 2021
189:. This happened in November 2022.
25:
382:Mitchell, Keith (25 March 2014).
61:Foreign & Commonwealth Office
1432:
1421:
1420:
536:from the original on 2 June 2023
264:from the original on 17 May 2022
1408:Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy
290:from the original on 2021-10-01
171:, part of the Foreign Office.
1471:Monarchy of the United Kingdom
1:
1403:Twin towns and sister cities
312:. Alan Sutton. p. 195.
72:Corps of Queen's Messengers
1487:
1396:Plenipotentiary Conference
671:Wheeler-Holohan, Vincent.
68:Corps of King's Messengers
29:
1416:
664:O'Brien-Twohig, Michael.
654:London: H. Jenkins, 1941.
1386:Parliamentary delegation
1265:Diplomatic accreditation
1031:African Diplomatic Corps
772:Permanent representative
78:employed by the British
834:Deputy chief of mission
789:Resident representative
687:Queen's Messenger Story
388:Prime Minister's Office
1280:Diplomatic credentials
622:Harwich and Dovercourt
342:Medieval Prosopography
336:Hill, Mary C. (1996).
308:Hill, Mary C. (1994).
158:parliamentary question
149:
63:
52:
45:
18:Queen's Messenger
871:Resident commissioner
843:Bilateral-subnational
618:"The Berlin Disaster"
223:The Queen's Messenger
176:British Rail Class 67
144:
58:
51:
40:
27:UK government courier
1003:Apostolic nunciature
903:Agricultural attaché
697:Can be viewed online
93:The safe passage of
32:The Silver Greyhound
1295:Diplomatic immunity
1255:Consular assistance
784:Ambassador-at-large
668:. Elek Books, 1960.
526:"King's Messengers"
1353:Letter of credence
1315:Diplomatic uniform
1310:Diplomatic service
1290:Diplomatic illness
1285:Diplomatic history
1038:Diplomatic mission
955:Diplomatic courier
935:Trade commissioner
798:Bilateral-national
666:Diplomatic Courier
478:2015-10-29 at the
255:The United Nations
199:Diplomatic courier
150:
103:diplomatic courier
95:diplomatic baggage
64:
53:
46:
1461:Diplomats by role
1448:
1447:
1358:Letter of protest
1326:Persona non grata
1260:Consular immunity
1058:Exclusive mandate
991:
990:
943:
942:
908:Chargé de mission
859:Bilateral-insular
823:Chargé d'affaires
810:High commissioner
695:film, 7:42 mins.
561:The Northern Echo
532:. UK Government.
180:Queen's Messenger
146:Queen's Messenger
16:(Redirected from
1478:
1436:
1435:
1424:
1423:
1275:Diplomatic cable
1053:Protecting power
1026:Diplomatic corps
967:Foreign minister
960:King's Messenger
925:Military attaché
920:Cultural attaché
762:
753:
731:
724:
717:
708:
638:
637:
635:
633:
614:
608:
607:
605:
603:
583:
577:
576:
574:
572:
552:
546:
545:
543:
541:
522:
516:
515:
513:
511:
491:
485:
470:
464:
463:
461:
459:
440:
434:
433:
431:
429:
410:
404:
403:
401:
399:
379:
370:
369:
367:
365:
333:
324:
323:
305:
299:
298:
296:
295:
280:
274:
273:
271:
269:
263:
252:
244:
187:King Charles III
42:British passport
21:
1486:
1485:
1481:
1480:
1479:
1477:
1476:
1475:
1451:
1450:
1449:
1444:
1412:
1374:Development aid
1362:
1336:
1305:Diplomatic rank
1238:
1062:
1043:High commission
987:
983:Diplomatic rank
971:
939:
930:Science attaché
887:
854:
838:
829:Head of mission
793:
757:
744:
735:
682:
647:
645:Further reading
642:
641:
631:
629:
616:
615:
611:
601:
599:
585:
584:
580:
570:
568:
554:
553:
549:
539:
537:
524:
523:
519:
509:
507:
493:
492:
488:
480:Wayback Machine
471:
467:
457:
455:
442:
441:
437:
427:
425:
412:
411:
407:
397:
395:
381:
380:
373:
363:
361:
335:
334:
327:
320:
307:
306:
302:
293:
291:
282:
281:
277:
267:
265:
261:
250:
246:
245:
238:
233:
195:
139:
115:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1484:
1482:
1474:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1453:
1452:
1446:
1445:
1443:
1442:
1430:
1417:
1414:
1413:
1411:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1399:
1398:
1388:
1383:
1382:
1381:
1370:
1368:
1364:
1363:
1361:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1344:
1342:
1338:
1337:
1335:
1334:
1329:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1300:Diplomatic law
1297:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1270:Diplomatic bag
1267:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1246:
1244:
1240:
1239:
1237:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1070:
1068:
1064:
1063:
1061:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1034:
1033:
1023:
1015:
1010:
1008:Consular corps
1005:
999:
997:
993:
992:
989:
988:
986:
985:
979:
977:
976:Classification
973:
972:
970:
969:
964:
963:
962:
951:
949:
945:
944:
941:
940:
938:
937:
932:
927:
922:
917:
910:
905:
899:
897:
892:By portfolio (
889:
888:
886:
885:
880:
875:
874:
873:
862:
860:
856:
855:
853:
852:
846:
844:
840:
839:
837:
836:
831:
826:
819:
818:
817:
812:
801:
799:
795:
794:
792:
791:
786:
781:
780:
779:
777:United Nations
768:
766:
759:
750:
746:
745:
736:
734:
733:
726:
719:
711:
705:
704:
699:
681:
680:External links
678:
677:
676:
669:
662:
657:Bamber, Iain.
655:
646:
643:
640:
639:
609:
578:
547:
517:
486:
465:
435:
405:
371:
325:
318:
300:
275:
235:
234:
232:
229:
228:
227:
219:
210:
201:
194:
191:
138:
135:
114:
111:
88:business class
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1483:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1458:
1456:
1441:
1440:
1431:
1429:
1428:
1419:
1418:
1415:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1397:
1394:
1393:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1380:
1377:
1376:
1375:
1372:
1371:
1369:
1365:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1345:
1343:
1339:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1327:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1247:
1245:
1241:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1184:Paradiplomacy
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1139:Full-spectrum
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1065:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1032:
1029:
1028:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1020:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
1000:
998:
994:
984:
981:
980:
978:
974:
968:
965:
961:
958:
957:
956:
953:
952:
950:
946:
936:
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
916:
915:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
900:
898:
895:
890:
884:
883:Agent-general
881:
879:
876:
872:
869:
868:
867:
864:
863:
861:
857:
851:
848:
847:
845:
841:
835:
832:
830:
827:
825:
824:
820:
816:
813:
811:
808:
807:
806:
803:
802:
800:
796:
790:
787:
785:
782:
778:
775:
774:
773:
770:
769:
767:
763:
760:
758:leader titles
754:
751:
747:
743:
739:
732:
727:
725:
720:
718:
713:
712:
709:
703:
700:
698:
694:
693:British Pathe
690:
688:
684:
683:
679:
674:
670:
667:
663:
660:
656:
653:
649:
648:
644:
627:
623:
619:
613:
610:
597:
593:
589:
582:
579:
566:
562:
558:
551:
548:
535:
531:
527:
521:
518:
505:
501:
500:Daily Express
497:
490:
487:
484:
481:
477:
474:
469:
466:
453:
449:
448:UK Parliament
445:
439:
436:
423:
419:
418:UK Government
415:
414:"Our history"
409:
406:
393:
389:
385:
378:
376:
372:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
339:
332:
330:
326:
321:
315:
311:
304:
301:
289:
285:
279:
276:
260:
256:
249:
243:
241:
237:
230:
225:
224:
220:
217:
216:
211:
208:
207:
202:
200:
197:
196:
192:
190:
188:
183:
181:
177:
172:
170:
169:FCDO Services
165:
164:
163:Daily Express
159:
154:
147:
143:
136:
134:
131:
128:
124:
119:
112:
110:
108:
104:
100:
96:
91:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
62:
57:
50:
43:
39:
33:
19:
1438:
1426:
1367:Other topics
1324:
1234:Wolf warrior
1018:
959:
912:
821:
765:Multilateral
696:
686:
672:
665:
658:
651:
630:. Retrieved
621:
612:
600:. Retrieved
592:The Guardian
591:
581:
569:. Retrieved
560:
550:
538:. Retrieved
530:FCDOServices
529:
520:
508:. Retrieved
499:
489:
482:
468:
456:. Retrieved
447:
438:
426:. Retrieved
417:
408:
396:. Retrieved
387:
362:. Retrieved
348:(2): 63â96.
345:
341:
309:
303:
292:. Retrieved
278:
266:. Retrieved
254:
221:
214:
205:
184:
179:
173:
161:
155:
151:
145:
132:
120:
116:
92:
71:
67:
65:
1250:Appeasement
948:Other roles
510:7 September
123:Richard III
1455:Categories
1332:Soft power
1204:Preventive
1194:Pilgrimage
1089:Commercial
805:Ambassador
756:Diplomatic
398:5 February
319:0750907649
294:2021-10-01
231:References
226:(TV drama)
156:In 1995 a
137:Modern day
127:Charles II
1348:Exequatur
1341:Documents
1199:Ping-pong
1169:Migration
1144:Guerrilla
1134:Freelance
1109:Debt-trap
1079:Checkbook
1013:Consulate
742:diplomats
738:Diplomacy
444:"Hansard"
206:Star Dust
1427:Category
1379:Agencies
1320:Protocol
1229:Track II
1124:Economic
1099:Culinary
1094:Cultural
1084:Coercive
1048:Legation
1019:De facto
866:Resident
632:18 April
626:Archived
602:18 April
596:Archived
571:18 April
565:Archived
540:18 April
534:Archived
504:Archived
476:Archived
458:17 April
452:Archived
428:18 April
422:Archived
392:Archived
364:18 April
358:Archived
354:44946235
288:Archived
268:18 April
259:Archived
193:See also
76:couriers
1439:Commons
1224:Stadium
1219:Shuttle
1214:Science
1164:Medical
1154:Hostage
1149:Gunboat
1114:Digital
1104:Defence
1021:embassy
996:Offices
894:Attaché
113:History
1391:Summit
1243:Topics
1209:Public
1189:Parley
1129:Energy
1119:Dollar
1074:Caviar
850:Consul
815:Nuncio
352:
316:
215:Berlin
1179:Panda
1067:Types
878:Envoy
749:Roles
350:JSTOR
262:(PDF)
251:(PDF)
204:BSAA
1159:Iron
740:and
689:1952
634:2021
604:2021
573:2021
542:2021
512:2016
460:2015
430:2021
400:2024
366:2021
314:ISBN
270:2021
174:The
107:HMRC
84:Army
70:(or
66:The
1174:New
213:SS
1457::
691:,
624:.
620:.
594:.
590:.
563:.
559:.
528:.
502:.
498:.
450:.
446:.
420:.
416:.
390:.
386:.
374:^
356:.
346:17
344:.
340:.
328:^
286:.
257:.
253:.
239:^
182:.
896:)
730:e
723:t
716:v
636:.
606:.
575:.
544:.
514:.
462:.
432:.
402:.
368:.
322:.
297:.
272:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
