Malcolm Ross (courtier)

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Walter Hugh Malcolm Ross, GCVO OBE GCStJ DL (27 October 1943[1] – 27 October 2019) was a member of the Royal Household[2] of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, and from 2006 to 2008, master of the household to then Prince Charles.

For other people named Malcolm Ross, see Malcolm Ross (disambiguation).

Lieutenant Colonel
Sir Malcolm Ross
GCVO OBE DL

Lord Prior of Order of St John
In office
1 September 2016 – 25 June 2019
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byNeil Conn
Succeeded byMark Compton
Extra Equerry to the Queen
In office
1988–2019
MonarchElizabeth II
Master of the Household to the Prince of Wales
In office
2006–2008
Preceded byKevin Knott
Succeeded byRichard Pattle
Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office
In office
1991–2005
Succeeded bySir Andrew Ford
Personal details
Born
Walter Hugh Malcolm Ross

(1943-10-27)27 October 1943
Died27 October 2019(2019-10-27) (aged 76)
Spouse
Susan Jane Gow
​
​
(m. 1969)​
Children3
Parent(s)Walter John Macdonald Ross
Josephine May Cross
Alma materRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
RankLieutenant-Colonel
UnitScots Guards
AwardsMember of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Dispatches

Early life

Ross was born on 27 October 1943 to Colonel Walter John Macdonald Ross (d. 1982) and Josephine May Cross (d. 1982).[3] His younger brother is (Walter) Robert Alexander Ross (b. 1950), Keeper of the Records of the Duchy of Cornwall until retiring in 2013.[3] He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst. He served in the Scots Guards from 1964 to 1987, holding the posts of Adjutant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 1977–1979, and reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1982.

Career

Ross joined the Royal Household in 1987 as Assistant Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office and Management Auditor. In 1989 he ceased to be Management Auditor, but remained as Assistant Comptroller until 1990.[4] From 1989 to 1990 he was Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.

He was Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office 1991–2005, and Master of the Household to the Prince of Wales between 2006 and 2008. From 1988 on he was an Extra Equerry to the Queen.[5]

He was made an OBE in 1988, and joined the Royal Victorian Order in 1994 as a CVO. He was knighted as a KCVO in 1999, and advanced to GCVO in 2005. He was appointed GCStJ in 2016 on becoming the Lord Prior of the Order of St John.[6]

From 1981 on he was a member of the Royal Company of Archers, and a Freeman of the City of London as of 1994.

In 2006, he was made Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, succeeding Sir Norman Arthur. He had been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2003. He retired as Lord Lieutenant on 27 October 2018, when he reached his 75th birthday.[7]

In 2007, he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman[8][9] to the International Security and Defence group, Westminster Group plc, whilst maintaining his full duties to the Royal Household.

On 1 September 2016 he was appointed as the Lord Prior of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.[10]

Honour Ribbons:

Personal life

On 31 January 1969, he married Susan Jane Gow (b. 1949), daughter of General Sir James Michael Gow (1924–2013) and Jane Emily Scott. Through his wife, he was the uncle of Sophie Hunter (b. 1978), the wife of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.[11] Together he and his wife had three children:[3]

  • Tabitha Alice Ross (b. 1970)[3]
  • Flora Jane Josephine Ross (b. 1974)[3]
  • Hector Walter James Ross (b. 1983)[3]

He died on 27 October 2019, his birthday, at the age of 76.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Debretts". Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  2. Prince of Wales.gov. "Sir Malcolm Ross is appointed Master of the Household". PrinceOfWales.gov.uk (28 October 2005). Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  3. Burke's Peearage (2003) volume 3, page 3401
  4. No. 10 Downing Street. "Sir Malcolm Ross - Profile". Number-10.gov.uk (3 March 2006). Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  5. "Walter Hugh Malcolm Ross GCVO, OBE, DL, Non Executive Deputy Chairman,Westminster Group PLC". bloomberg. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  6. "2633708 | Order of St John | The Gazette". m.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  7. "Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry Sir Malcolm Ross set to retire". Daily Record. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  8. Elizabeth Judge. "Sir Malcolm Ross". The Times (14 May 2007). London. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  9. "Westminster Group Plc Board Members". Westminster Group Plc website. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  10. "St John International | Blog | Appointment of Great Officers". Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  11. Hawkes, Rebecca (5 November 2014). "Sophie Hunter: who is Benedict Cumberbatch's fiancée?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2014. ...she is a 36-year-old Oxford graduate...
  12. Sir Malcolm Ross, 1943-2019
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