The Usual Channels extract: royal encounters with the whips
The whips’ office, not unlike the country, can pivot to moments of great pageantry at the flick of a ceremonial white stave.
The Office’s second, third and fourth in command – known respectively as the Treasurer, Comptroller and Vice-Chamberlain – are part of the royal household, an organisation that supports members of the royal family.
Appointed by the Prime Minister rather than the sovereign, the roles, which long predate the creation of The Office as we know it today, have coalesced over time around these three senior whips, having been held for centuries by a mixture of courtiers, noblemen, Members of Parliament and peers in the House of Lords.
Tasked with duties of historical significance, these whips play a symbolic role in Britain’s constitutional monarchy, where the sovereign is head of state, but the elected Parliament makes and passes laws.
From being held hostage to securing the monarch’s signature, whips help bridge the mile-long stretch between the Palace of Westminster and Buckingham Palace.
Among their assignments, the three whips help introduce guests at Buckingham Palace garden parties, attend diplomatic receptions, and play a role in rare events like a coronation or royal funeral.
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On appointment they receive a ceremonial white stave; some even have private audiences with the monarch. But it’s at the state opening of parliament where they take part in a ceremonial act that best captures the constitutional function of the royal whips.
Known as the King's (or Queen’s) Speech, the state opening represents the formal commencement of the parliamentary year, during which the monarch sets out the government’s legislative agenda on its behalf.
Before proceedings begin, the three royal whips travel to Buckingham Palace, where they enjoy coffee, a tour of the crown jewels, and wave off the royal party en route to Westminster.
In a practice dating back to Charles I, the last king to enter the Commons who had a contentious relationship with Parliament, the Vice-Chamberlain is then left behind with the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer of the royal household, who keeps them “hostage” until the monarch’s safe return.
The Vice-Chamberlain is ushered into a small room to watch the King’s Speech. Sir Desmond Swayne, Vice-Chamberlain from 2013-2014, recalls a Palace official asking whether they should open a bottle of sherry or champagne.
“Well, let’s have both!” he replied. Later, the Queen hosted a small drinks reception to thank those who had helped with the event, serving “very stiff” gin and tonics.
“You’re crammed almost like a sardine up to the Duke of Edinburgh, chatting away and all the rest, knocking back the gin. It was a frightfully enjoyable excursion,” Swayne says.
During his first state opening in 2019, an official offered Vice-Chamberlain Stuart Andrew a hot drink before saying, “You look like you’d like something a bit stronger!” and returning with a bottle of champagne.
Andrew was “a bit swiffy” when the Queen arrived back from Parliament. At his next state opening, the Queen turned to him at the bottom of the stairs and said: “You have a good time again, won’t you?”