Harriet Cross (diplomat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harriet Cross
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Cross in 2016
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| Governor of Montserrat | |
| Assumed office 23 April 2025 |
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| Monarch | Charles III |
| Premier | Reuben Meade |
| Preceded by | Sarah Tucker |
Harriet Victoria Cross is a British diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country and its interests in other nations. She has held many important roles around the world, helping to build good relationships between countries. In 2025, she became the Governor of Montserrat, a small island in the Caribbean. Before this, she served as the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago.
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About Harriet Cross
Harriet Cross has had an impressive career in international relations. She took on the role of Governor of Montserrat in April 2025, following Sarah Tucker.
Early Life and Education
Harriet Cross is a highly educated diplomat. She earned a master's degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University. She also holds a First Class honours degree in Politics with French from the University of Warwick. To further her skills in leadership, she completed an Executive Certificate in Management & Leadership from MIT.
A Career in Diplomacy
Before becoming Governor of Montserrat, Harriet Cross served in several key positions. From 2020 to December 2024, she was the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. Before that, she was the Consul-General in Boston, Massachusetts from 2016 to August 2020. She also worked as the Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in Yemen.
Harriet Cross made history in several of her roles. She was the first woman to be the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. She was also the fourth woman to lead the British consulate in Boston. During her time in Yemen, she showed strong leadership by helping to move the British Embassy staff to a safer location due to difficult circumstances in the country. She then continued her important work from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
International Roles and Responsibilities
Serving in Trinidad and Tobago
Harriet Cross served as the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago from September 2020 to December 2024. Her time there began during the global Covid-19 pandemic, which meant she had to spend her first two weeks in quarantine. During her time in Trinidad and Tobago, she focused on important social issues. She worked to promote fairness and safety for everyone, and she actively supported programs that helped girls and women achieve their full potential.
Becoming Governor of Montserrat
In January 2025, it was announced that Harriet Cross would be appointed as the Governor of Montserrat. She officially began her new role and was sworn in on April 23, 2025. As Governor, she is the representative of King Charles III on the island. She is also the fourth woman to hold the position of Governor of Montserrat, continuing a trend of strong female leadership on the island.
