Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 17 January (HL4523), whether the privilege of wearing Royal ADC aiguillettes and cyphers has been removed from former Heads of Service.

The wearing of Royal Aiguillettes and The Sovereign's Cypher are visual indicators of being a member of the Royal Household and are worn only for the duration of a qualifying appointment.

There are six senior serving military officers appointed by the Sovereign as Principal Aides de Camp (ADC), namely the Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, First Sea Lord, Chief of the General Staff, Chief of the Air Staff and Commander Joint Forces Command (the current Heads of Service). Officers holding these appointments wear Royal Aiguillettes and the Sovereign's Cypher and are entitled to the post-nominal of ADC or ADC(Gen).

These privileges are transferred to their successors once they cease to hold one of the six qualifying appointments. This policy has been in force for some years and remains unchanged.

Four-star military officers who served as Principal ADCs may wear the single-Service "Board" pattern aiguillette on the right shoulder as an additional mark of recognition from Her Majesty the Queen, unless re-appointed to the Royal Household or subsequently appointed to five-star rank.