In the United Kingdom, The
Earl Marshal of England is a hereditary Royal officeholder under the King or Queen of the
United Kingdom. The title of office was "Marshal" (making the title holder the Lord Marshal) until
William Marshal,
Earl of Pembroke,
whose titles of "Earl" and "Marshal" were separate (although he is
often referred to now as "Earl Marshal") made it stand for something.
After it came into the family of the
Dukes of Norfolk, it evolved into "Earl Marshal". The Earl Marshal is the eighth of the
Great Officers of State, with the
Lord High Constable above him and only the
Lord High Admiral beneath him.
In the
Dominion of British West Florida, the office of Lord Marshall is an appointed office, charged with many of the same ceramonial duties as the Earl Marshal of the United Kingdom:
1) Organisation of the State Opening of
Parliament. and Assisting with the Ceremonies of the House.
2) Confirming the Lord's Credentials and seeing that they are properly seated in the House of Lords.
3) Ensuring order is maintained within the House of Lords.
The Current Lord Marshal for the Dominion of British West Florida is
John Houston.