The Lieutenancy in the 21st Century
As mentioned in the previous section, the Lieutenancy’s role has evolved over time, much like that of the Monarchy’s, but its purpose in supporting the Crown remains.
The Queen and Her Government expect certain duties of the Lord-Lieutenant. These duties may broadly be classified under the following headings:
To assist with visits by Members of the Royal Family;
To promote, encourage and validate nominations for national honours and awards, and to present certain honours, medals and awards on behalf of The Queen, notably these include national honours, British Empire Medals, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) and the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise (QAE);
To liaise with and support local units of the Armed Forces and associated Cadet Forces;
To lead the local magistracy as Chairman of the Advisory Committee; and
To encourage a sense of community in the county and promote voluntary activity for the benefit of the community.
Our mission:
Our primary role will always be to support the Monarch and Royal Family in Oxfordshire.
In addition, we will seek to extend the relevance of the Monarchy and provide recognition for achievement and endeavour across the full spectrum of communities we represent. Recognition can take the form of Royal visits, Honours, Royal Garden Party attendance or the interest we take personally.
We act as a bridge-builder connecting individuals and organisations to enhance their impact and an overall sense of belonging.
Our values:
· Duty – We serve the Monarch, the Nation and Oxfordshire unselfishly; and
· Respect – We are inclusive and accessible to all.
It is important to note that the Lieutenancy does not create honours, take direct responsibility for forming or managing corporate bodies or take any other actions which could be perceived to compete with other established institutions. The Lieutenancy can only operate using its influence to convene, honour, advocate and encourage others.