Royal Warrant - Commission of Appointment for an Ambassador/Minister Plenipotentiary [Undated]

Royal Warrant - Commission of Appointment for an Ambassador/Minister Plenipotentiary [Undated]

Foreign Affairs

Specimen of a Commission of Appointment issued to an Ambassador/Minister Plenipotentiary.

King George V

Arnold D. McNair (ed.), A Guide to Diplomatic Practice by the Late Rt. Hon. Sir Ernest Satow, third edition (Longmans, Green and Co., 1932), 132-133.

Undated

Jason Loch

(Seal) (Signed) GEORGE R.I.

GEORGE, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, etc., etc., etc.

To all and singular to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.

Whereas it appears to Us expedient to nominate some person of approved Wisdom, Loyalty, Diligence and Circumspection to represent Us in the character of Our Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to ________________.

Now Know Ye that We, reposing especial trust and confidence in the discretion and faithfulness of Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved ________________ have nominated, constituted and appointed, as We do by these Presents nominate, appoint and constitute him, the said ________________ Our Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the ________________. Giving and granting to him in that character all power and authority to do and perform all proper acts, matters and things which may be desirable or necessary for the promotion of relations of friendship, good understanding, and harmonious intercourse between Our ________________ and ________________, and for the protection and furtherance of the interests confided to his care; by the diligent and discreet accomplishment of which acts, matters and things afore-mentioned he shall gain Our approval and show himself worthy of Our high confidence.

And We therefore request all those whom it may concern to receive and acknowledge Our said ________________ as such Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary as aforesaid, and freely to communicate with him upon all matters which may appertain to the objects of the high mission whereto he is hereby appointed.

Given at Our Court of St. James, the ________________ day of  ________________ in the year of Our Lord ________________ and in the ________________ year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty's Command,
(Countersigned)

This is a specimen, but the actual instrument would normally have been countersigned by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Unknown

This text comes from a secondary source and so it may not reflect the formatting of the original.

These Commissions were formerly issued to newly appointed ambassadors/ministers alongside their Letters of Credence. This custom may have been discontinued, however, as more recent editions of Satow's Diplomatic Practice make no mention of such instruments.

Note the absence of the ordinal number in the royal name.