List of Privy Counsellors (1952–2022) facts for kids

The Privy Council of the United Kingdom is a group of important people who advise the King or Queen of the United Kingdom. It's one of the oldest parts of the British government! Members of the Privy Council are called Privy Counsellors. They are usually senior politicians, judges, and religious leaders. They meet with the monarch to approve official orders and decisions.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, from 1952 to 2022, many people were appointed to the Privy Council. Most members serve for life, but sometimes, a Privy Counsellor might leave the Council.

Why Members Leave the Privy Council

Most Privy Counsellors stay members for their whole lives. However, a few have left the Council for different reasons.

• John Profumo resigned in 1963 because he gave incorrect information to the House of Commons, which is a part of the UK Parliament.
• Four other members, John Stonehouse (1976), Jonathan Aitken (1997), Chris Huhne (2013), and Denis MacShane (2013), resigned after they were found guilty of serious wrongdoing that led to prison sentences.
• Elliot Morley was removed from the Council in 2011. This was a very rare event, as it was the first time someone had been expelled since 1921!
• Lord Prescott, who used to be the Deputy Prime Minister, resigned in 2013. He did this to show his disagreement with how the Council was handling a new set of rules for newspapers.
• Sir Seamus Treacy, a judge from Northern Ireland, resigned shortly after he was appointed in 2018.
• Percival Patterson resigned in 2022 because there was a general agreement in Jamaica that the country should become a republic, meaning it would no longer have the British monarch as its head of state.

Important Years for Privy Council Appointments

Many people became Privy Counsellors during Queen Elizabeth II's long reign. Here are some of the key years and a few examples of the types of people who joined.

1952: The Queen's First Year

In 1952, the year Queen Elizabeth II became monarch, some notable people joined the Privy Council:

• The Earl Alexander of Tunis (a famous military leader)
• Henry Hopkinson (a politician)
• Iain Macleod (another important politician)

1960: A New Decade of Service

The 1960s brought more new members, including some from other countries in the Commonwealth.

• Julian Amery (a British politician)
• Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe (the first President of Nigeria)
• John Profumo (who later resigned, as mentioned above)

1970: Changes in Government

As the government changed, new people were appointed to advise the Queen.

• John Davies (a businessman and politician)
• Margaret Thatcher (who would later become Prime Minister)
• Peter Walker (another significant politician)

1980: A New Era

The 1980s saw more diverse appointments, reflecting the changing political landscape.

• Paul Channon (a British politician)
• Robert Runcie (the Archbishop of Canterbury, a senior religious leader)
• Bernard Weatherill (who would become Speaker of the House of Commons)

1990: Modernizing the Council

As the UK moved towards the end of the 20th century, the Privy Council continued to welcome key figures.

• Helen Clark (who would become Prime Minister of New Zealand)
• Michael Howard (a prominent British politician)
• William Waldegrave (another influential politician)

2000: Into the New Millennium

The new millennium brought more appointments, including many judges and politicians.

• Mary Arden (a respected judge)
• Colin Boyd (a Scottish legal figure)
• Rhodri Morgan (the First Minister of Wales)

2010: Recent Appointments

In the last decade of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, many current political figures joined the Council.

• Vince Cable (a Liberal Democrat politician)
• Michael Gove (a Conservative politician)
• Jeremy Hunt (another Conservative politician)
• Theresa Villiers (a Conservative politician)

2020: Final Years of the Reign

Even in her final years, Queen Elizabeth II continued to appoint new Privy Counsellors.

• Suella Braverman (a Conservative politician)
• George Eustice (a Conservative politician)
• Anne-Marie Trevelyan (a Conservative politician)

The Privy Council remains an important part of the UK's government, helping the monarch carry out their duties and ensuring smooth governance.