Chris Ghika

Major General Sir Christopher John Ghika, KCVO, CBE is a retired senior British Army officer. He was deputy commander of the US-led military coalition against ISIS, the Combined Joined Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, from 2018 to 2019 and Major-General commanding the Household Division from 2019 to 2023.

Sir Christopher Ghika
Ghika as Major General Commanding the Household Division, in 2022
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1993–2023
RankMajor General
UnitIrish Guards
Commands heldLondon District
Household Division
1st Battalion Irish Guards
Battles/warsThe Troubles
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Operation Inherent Resolve
AwardsKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Legion of Merit (United States)

Early life

Ghika is the son of Brigadier Prince John Ghika, an Irish Guards officer who traced his royal title back to 1658, when the Albano-Romanian Ghica dynasty ruled over Moldavia and later Wallachia. Chris Ghika does not use the title "Prince" publicly.[1] He was educated at Ampleforth College.[2]

Military career
Ghika (center) in the Procession to the Lying-in-State of Elizabeth II

Ghika was commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1993, upon completing the commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.[3] After various field and staff roles, he became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, in 2010. He was deployed as the head of a battlegroup, as a lieutenant colonel, to Helmand Province, Afghanistan.[4] He later went on to be Deputy Commander of the 1st (US) Infantry Division in 2014, Head of Personnel Capability in the Army Headquarters in September 2015, and Deputy Commander Strategy and Information of Combined Joined Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in 2018.[5][6][7]

Ghika was appointed Major-General commanding the Household Division on 15 November 2019.[8][3][9] In June 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, he was responsible for the modified Trooping the Colour ceremony at Windsor Castle.[10] He was appointed the commanding officer of the procession to Westminster Hall and the subsequent funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.[11] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order during an audience with King Charles III on 28 June 2023; during this audience he relinquished his appointment as Major-General commanding the Household Division and also as GOC London.[12]

Ghika became Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Irish Guards on 10 June 2022.[13]

Later career

After relinquishing his appointment as Major-General commanding the Household Division and retiring from the army after 30 years of service, Ghika became Under Treasurer and Chief Executive at the Middle Temple in July 2023.[14]

References
  1. "British general in Iran controversy is a Romanian prince". Washington Examiner. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  2. "Ampleforth Society Announcement | Ampleforth Society". www.ampleforth.org.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. "No. 53426". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1993. p. 14960.
  4. "Major-General Chris Ghika CBE". Inherent Resolve. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  5. "U.K. Military Official Contradicts U.S. on Iranian Threat". Time. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  6. Ryan Browne and Jamie Crawford. "No increased threat from Iran-backed forces, anti-ISIS coalition leader says". CNN. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  7. Rempfer, Kyle (14 May 2019). "Pentagon disputes British general's assessment on Iranian threat". Military Times. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  8. "The Army in London – HQ London District". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  9. "No. 62830". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 November 2019. p. 20854.
  10. "Coronavirus: Queen's official birthday to be marked with new ceremony". BBC News. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  11. "William and Harry to walk behind Queen's coffin to Westminster Hall". BBC. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  12. "Court Circular". royal.gov. 28 June 2023.
  13. "No. 63895". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 December 2022. p. 23363.
  14. "Welcome to our new Under Treasurer". Middle Temple. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
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