LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN, in England, a func tionary who must be carefully distinguished from the lord cham berlain; he is one of the great officers of State, whose office dates from Norman times; and the only one who still holds it under a creation of that period. As his name implies, he was specially connected by his duties with the king's chamber (camera curie); but this phrase was also used to denote the king's privy purse, and the chamberlain may be considered as originally the financial officer of the household. But as he was always a great baron, deputies performed his financial work, and his functions became, as they are now, mainly ceremonial, though the emblem of his office is still a key. The office had been held by Robert Malet, son of a leading companion of the Conqueror, but he was for feited by Henry I., who, in 1133, gave the great chamberlainship to Aubrey de Vere and his heirs, earls of Oxford, who, with some intermissions, held the office till 1779 when it passed to the co heiresses of Lord Willoughby d'Eresby. The office is now vested jointly in Lord Ancaster, Lord Cholmondeley and Lord Carrington and their heirs.
The lord great chamberlain has charge of the palace of West minster, especially of the House of Lords, in which he has an office ; and when the sovereign opens parliament in person he is responsible for the arrangements. At the opening or closing of
the session of parliament by the sovereign in person he disposes of the sword of State to be carried by any peer he may select, and walks himself in the procession on the right of the sword of State, a little before it and next to the sovereign. He issues the tickets of admission on the same occasions. He assists at the introduction of all peers into the House of Lords on their crea tion, and at the homage of all bishops after their consecration. At coronations he emerges into special importance; he still as serts before the court of claims his archaic right to bring the king his "shirt, stockings and drawers" and to dress him on coro nation day and to receive his ancient fees, which include the king's bed and "night robe." He also claims in error to serve the king with water before and after the banquet, which was the function of the "ewry," a distinct office held by the earls of Oxford. At the actual coronation ceremony he takes an active part in investing the king with the royal insignia.
See J. H. Round, "The Lord Great Chamberlain" (Monthly Review, June 1902) and "Notes on the Lord Great Chamberlain Case" (Ancestor, No. IV.). (J. H. R.)