Director for Security Liaison

An office created in the Private Secretary's Office of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom in 2004. The first office-holder was Brigadier Jeffrey Cook, OBE MC, a former Special Air Service (SAS) officer.

As his role was security policy, the whole range of security services for the Sovereign would logically have been within his responsibility. These bodies are numerous, and may be listed as follows. The first category are police, including (within the Metropolitan Police) the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, Special Branch, Special Escort Group, Mounted Branch, Anti-terrorist Branch, Territorial Support Branch, SO19 response teams, Thames Division, and the Air Support Unit. The first has the primary role of royal security, the others being supportive in greater or lesser degree.

The Security Service (MI5) provides protective security intelligence.

Non-combat personal bodyguards include the Gentlemen at Arms, the Yeomen of the Guard, the Royal Company of Archers (in Scotland), the Honourable Artillery Company (in the City of London), the Corps of Serjeants at Arms, the High Constables and Guard of Honour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse (in Scotland), and the Wardens of the Jewel House, Tower of London. The Gold Stick and Silver Stick, senior officers of the Household Cavalry, also have a role, to protect the person of the Sovereign and to pass on any orders to their respective regiments.

Military guards for the Sovereign and metropolis comprise foot guards, mounted guards, and saluting batteries. The Household Division consists of five regiments of Foot Guards (five battalions), and the Household Cavalry. This latter has one armoured reconnaissance regiment and a mounted cavalry regiment provided by the two combined regiments. The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery provides a saluting battery.

The Household Division provides several battalions at any one time tasked for public duties, which include the protection of the Sovereign. In the event of crisis or war it is believed that one of these would be responsible for protecting the person of the Sovereign and facilitating their evacuation in the event that this were necessary. In the Second World War a special unit, known as the Coats Mission, was entrusted with this latter task. In the 1960s war plans apparently envisaged evacuating the Sovereign to the Royal Yacht Britannia. It would appear that, contrary to persistent rumour, there were no plans for the Sovereign to join the Prime Minister at the Corsham bunker complex known variously as Hawthorn or Turnstile.

Outside the Household Division, the SAS (Special Air Service) offers high risk/high value protection. The Royal Military Police guard VIPs temporarily in military care.

The Director for Security Liaison is meant to be the principal point of contact for all security matters across the Royal Household. He is responsible for the co-ordination and implementation of Royal Household security plans, policies and procedures. He works with the police, Home Office, and other agencies within the existing framework of security responsibilities. The Director reports to the Private Secretary to the Sovereign. An annual security plan for Royal Household security is to be written in consultation with police and other security organisations, covering personnel security as well as protection and physical security, and this is subject to annual reviews.