Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

The British Diplomatic Service post of Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is the head of the Foreign Secretary's Private Office.

The list below includes holders of the post of Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs up to 1968, when the office of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was created.

In the 19th century, the Foreign Secretary might have only one private secretary, often a personal appointment. Today, the Principal Private Secretary is the head of a small department, and the post is a senior one, typically held for a two year term by a Diplomatic Service officer at Director grade (equivalent to a Rear Admiral).

Holders of this post often go on to ambassador-level posts, and often are honoured with knighthoods, or sometimes peerages, later in their career. This list shows holders' names as they were at the time; details of their later careers and honours can be found in individual articles.

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