Queen's Messenger
The Corps of Queen's Messengers are couriers employed by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They hand-carry secret and important documents to British embassies and consulates around the world. Many Queen's Messengers are retired Army personnel. Messengers generally travel in plain clothes in business class on scheduled airlines, carrying an official case from which they must not be separated - it may even be chained to their wrist.
The safe passage of diplomatic baggage is guaranteed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 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, airline security staff, or anyone else for that matter. The bag is closed with a tamper-proof seal and has its own diplomatic passport. The Queen's Messenger and the messenger's personal luggage are not covered by special rules, however, so although the diplomatic bag, covered by the passport, is not checked, the messenger and the messenger's personal luggage go through normal security screening.
Contents
History
The first recorded King's Messenger was John Norman, who was appointed in 1485 by King Richard III to hand-deliver secret documents for his monarch. During his exile, Charles II appointed four trusted men to convey messages to Royalist forces in England.[1] 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.[1] On formal occasions, the Queen's Messengers wear this badge from a ribbon, and on less formal occasions many messengers wear ties with a discreet greyhound pattern while working.
Modern day
The current number of Messengers as of March 2015 is 16 full time and 2 part time, the departmental headcount is 19.[2]
In 1995 a Parliamentary question[3] put the number then at 27.
Modern communications have diminished the role of the Queen's Messengers, but as original documents still need to be conveyed between countries by "safe-hand", their function remains valuable. A Freedom of Information request to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office shows that the approved number of the Queen's Messengers is 19, with this not having changed within 10 years as of April 2015. The current number in service as of this date is 18 with 16 of these being employed full time and 2 part time.[4]
See also
- Diplomatic courier
- BSAA Star Dust was carrying a King's Messenger at the time of its disappeance
- SS Berlin was carrying a King's Messenger at the time of its sinking
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/457134/FOI_0315-15_Queen_s_Messengers_-_waiting_on_Media_approval.pdf
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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