Welcome to the website of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty is Mrs Janet Bowen who was appointed in April 2007 by HM The Queen on the death of Sir Roderick Stirling KCVO.
As Lord-Lieutenant, her first and foremost duty is to uphold the dignity of the Crown. She seeks to encourage a spirit of co-operation in the voluntary services and benevolent organisations, and takes an active interest in the business, industrial and social life of Ross-Shire.
Lord-Lieutenants are appointed by The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, for each county of England and Wales and each area of Scotland, apart from the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Lord-Lieutenant’s role is, like the Monarch’s, essentially non-political. The Lord-Lieutenant seeks to promote a spirit of co-operation by encouragement of the voluntary services and benevolent organisations, and by taking an active interest in the business, industrial, and social life of the County or area.
The office of Lord-Lieutenant is of military origin and dates back to the time of Henry VIII when they were appointed for the maintenance of order and for military purposes relating to local defence. Their military role has largely disappeared, but links are maintained by association with Volunteer Reserve Forces. They are also connected with other uniformed organisations such as the Fire, Police and Ambulance services and many local voluntary bodies, also The Cadet Forces and other youth organisations. Lord-Lieutenants have long been associated with the magistracy but, in Scotland, this direct association ceased in 2007.
