Office of Lieutenant Governor

Her Majesty The Queen

For many centuries the Stanley family (the Earls of Derby) were feudal Kings or Lords of Man, but in 1765 the Island was purchased by the British Crown. Her Majesty The Queen is the Head of State and is Lord of Man.

The Isle of Man is an internally self-governing Crown Dependency and the Crown has ultimate responsibility for its good Government.

Her Majesty’s UK Government is responsible for the Island’s defence and international relations but the Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom.

The UK Parliament has paramount power to legislate for the Isle of Man on all matters but it is a long-standing convention that it does not do so on domestic matters without the Island’s consent.

His Excellency The Lieutenant Governor

The Queen’s Personal Representative on the Isle of Man is formally styled the Lieutenant Governor and is appointed by Warrant of Her Majesty The Queen, on the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice.

The term of office of the Lieutenant Governor is at The Queen’s pleasure but is normally five years. The Warrant sets out the role in broad terms and speaks of the requirement to promote the Royal Family, The Queen as Head of State and the need to promote the happiness of the people.

The present Lieutenant Governor is Sir Richard Gozney. His Excellency was sworn in at a ceremony in Douglas on Friday 27 May 2016. (View his Biography)

Whilst The Queen and the Lieutenant Governor have certain executive functions, it is considered that all material functions are discharged by the Isle of Man Government as the Head of State almost always acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Changes in the role of the Lieutenant Governor were amongst the most significant of the Isle of Man constitutional reforms during the 20th century. This process continues and it is the wish of the Isle of Man Government that the Lieutenant Governor encourages such change, subject to him being the guardian of the affairs of The Queen or Crown matters.

The Deputy Governor

The Warrant of appointment of the Lieutenant Governor also appoints the First Deemster (Chief Justice) to act as Deputy Governor or, in the event of his absence or inability to act, the Second Deemster. When acting as Deputy Governor the First Deemster has all the powers of the Lieutenant Governor and these become effective during the absence of the Lieutenant Governor from the Island or in the event of the inability of the Lieutenant Governor to act. A Deemster, when acting as Deputy Governor, is titled His Honour the First (Second) Deemster (Name), Deputy Governor and is referred to as Your Honour.

Job Specification of the Lieutenant Governor

• To be Her Majesty The Queen’s personal representative and impartial adviser
• To be the personal representative and impartial adviser to Her Majesty The Queen, Lord of Mann
• To represent Her Majesty The Queen on ceremonial occasions
• To host Royal and VIP visits and occasions in conjunction with the Island’s Government
• To play a full and active part in the social and charitable affairs of the Island and assist the Isle of Man Government to promote community activity
• To carry out certain executive functions such as the issuing of passports and Naturalisation and the exercising of delegated authority to give Royal Assent to a wide range of primary legislation
• To make recommendations for certain Crown appointments in consultation with the Island or Church authorities, as appropriate
• To make recommendations for official Honours and Awards
• To work with the Island’s Government to help promote the Island’s interests on public and social occasions

The Role of the Lieutenant Governor

There are three overlapping roles: Constitutional, Community and Ceremonial

Constitutional

The Lieutenant Governor derives his powers directly from the Crown, from United Kingdom Acts of Parliament in respect of certain specific functions (e.g. Nationality); and from Acts of Tynwald or Customary Law. The purpose of the constitutional role is to maintain the legitimacy and continuity of government as this is the foundation of civil peace and order which is maintained by the rule of law.

The First Deemster, the Second Deemster and the Judge of Appeal are Crown Appointments but the Lieutenant Governor appoints, after independent process, the remaining members of Island’s Judiciary including Magistrates. HMs’ Attorney General and Solicitor General are Crown Appointments.

The Lieutenant Governor has a role to play with certain Crown Appointments within the Church of England on the Island.

State Awards and Honours

After taking advice, the Lieutenant Governor is responsible for making recommendations, on behalf of Isle of Man residents, for Honours that are announced in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year and Birthday Honours lists. The Nominations page provides more information for individuals considering making an Honours nomination for someone living on the Isle of Man.

The Lieutenant Governor also has a responsibility to provide supporting comment on all Isle of Man nominations for both The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and The Queen’s Award for Enterprise. 

Community

The Lieutenant Governor’s community role is by far the busiest. The Lieutenant Governor and his wife are patrons of many organisations and charities, and give their support and encouragement whenever there is an opportunity. Patronage of the Lieutenant Governor signals that an organisation is worthy of wide support. During most years, there will be many functions to attend all over the Island.

After taking advice the Lieutenant Governor is also responsible for the appointment of the Captain of each of the 17 ancient parishes of the Island. This office, normally for lifetime, was first recorded in 1626 to provide Watch and Ward and originated from Norse times in order to maintain ceaseless vigilance to prevent invasion. Formerly the head of the local militia, these days the post is largely ceremonial and recognition of the primary citizen of the Parish. On appointment a Captain takes the oath of office in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor and will receive their badge of office from him. A Captain is entitled to use the letters ‘CP’ after his or her name.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

With prior notification, the Lieutenant Governor sends birthday wishes to Island residents who celebrate their 90th or 100th birthdays, and letters of congratulation to those couples who celebrate their Golden or Diamond (or longer) Wedding Anniversary. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor can liaise with Buckingham Palace on the occasion of Diamond Wedding Anniversaries or 100^th Birthdays on behalf of Manx residents. Detailed information can be found at the Anniversary and Birthday Cards page.

Ceremonial

The Lieutenant Governor takes part in public ceremonies as the representative of Her Majesty The Queen. This role includes such duties as Presiding on Tynwald Hill during the Tynwald Ceremony on Tynwald Day each July, attending the National Remembrance Sunday Service, holding occasional Honours Investitures and hosting visiting Ambassadors and High Commissioners in conjunction with the Island Authorities. Many of the Lieutenant Governor’s community functions also have a ceremonial dimension, such as attendance at the official openings of buildings, addressing conferences, or the launching special of events and appeals.

Neither The Queen nor the Lieutenant Governor takes an active or initiating role in the executive functions of government. By binding convention, the Head of State almost always acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Government House, Onchan, Isle of Man, IM3 1RR

Government House is the Official Residence of the Lieutenant Governor and family. It also provides accommodation for official guests to the Isle of Man and is used extensively for formal functions such as lunches, dinners and receptions. As Office of the Lieutenant Governor is based at Government House, the House is the normal workplace of the Lieutenant Governor and his staff.

The House was originally Bemahague Farm and owned by the Heywood family. The main part was built between 1820 and 1830 with an extension to its present size in 1904 when the Manx Government bought the House. The maintenance of the House is the responsibility of the Department of Infrastructure who oversee the property through their Estates team. The House has four main bedroom suites, a fifth bedroom, two large reception rooms, and a formal dining room; together with service rooms and a number of offices.

The grounds cover about 12 hectares, some of which is lawn or garden, with much of the rest being woodland or grazing land. There is also a well-established rose garden, an orchard, vegetable plots and greenhouses providing flowers, produce and garden plants for the House and Gardens. Many visitors are welcomed to Government House each year, including: foreign Ambassadors, visiting politicians, VIPs and business leaders; and many more people from all walks of life who live on the Isle of Man. Functions hosted by the Lieutenant Governor range from formal ceremonies and receptions to teas, lunches and dinners. The Lieutenant Governor also encourages visits the House and Gardens by school groups and youth organisations from across the Island.

The management of the functions of the Lieutenant Governor requires the dedicated services of a small team of administration and house staff. They are all Isle of Man public servants and members of the Crown and External Relations Directorate within the Cabinet Office. The Private Secretary is a Senior Executive Officer and is responsible leadership and management of all operational aspects of the household and who provides direct support to the Lieutenant Governor. The House Manager/Personal Assistant to HE and the Social Secretary handle all administrative matters, such as maintaining the Lieutenant Governor’s diary, assisting with correspondence, speeches, arranging the daily programme and handling the protocol associated with all official events. The House Manager, Chef, Butler/Chauffeur and Assistant Housekeepers look after the House, Kitchen, the Lieutenant Governor’s travel around the Island and ensure the efficient running of functions. Together casual staff, who supplement the team when required, there are a number of Honorary Aide-de-Camps (Honorary ADCs) who assist the Lieutenant Governor at official functions.