Lieutenancy area

Lieutenancy area

Location	United Kingdom
Number	99 (as of 2008)
Possible types	England (48) Northern Ireland (8) Scotland (35) Wales (8)

Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a Lord Lieutenant - the representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily conterminate with, the counties of the United Kingdom.

In England, Lieutenancy areas are colloquially known as the ceremonial counties, although this phrase does not appear in any legislation referring to them. The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are subdivisions of Scotland that are more or less based on the counties of Scotland, making use of the major cities as separate entities. In Wales, the Lieutenancy areas are known as the preserved counties of Wales and are based on the counties that were used for Lieutenancy and local government between 1974 and 1996. The Lieutenancy areas of Northern Ireland correspond to the six counties and two former county boroughs.