Governor of the Virgin Islands

Governor of the Virgin Islands
Standard of the Governor
Arms of the British Virgin Islands
Incumbent John Duncan since 15 August 2014
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Government House, British Virgin Islands
Appointer	Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of the United Kingdom
Formation	1887
First holder	Edward John Cameron as Administrator
Website	Office of the Governor

The Governor of the Virgin Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the British Virgin Islands. The Governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The role of the Governor is to act as the de facto head of state, and he or she is responsible for appointing the Chief Minister and the Executive Council.

The current Governor is John Duncan.

The Governor has his own flag, the Union Flag defaced with the territory's coat of arms. The official residence of the Governor is Government House located in Road Town, Tortola.

The first colonial administration on the Islands was the Dutch. England annexed the Islands in 1672. An Administrator was appointed to the Islands from 1887, and replaced by a Governor in 1971 when the Islands were created a distinct territory.

Prior to this date, the local Council would elect one of their members to be President (see List of Presidents of the British Virgin Islands).

Up until 1971 the Administrators were answerable to the Governors of the Leeward Islands, of which the British Virgin Islands formed a part.

The Governor shall be responsible for the conduct of any business of the Government of the Virgin Islands, including the administration of any department of Government, with respect to the following matters:

The Governor also has various powers to make and remove appointments, and a power of pardon.