In the United Kingdom, the Great Officers of State are officers who either inherit their positions or are appointed by the Crown, and exercise certain ceremonial functions. The Great Officers are:
- Lord High Steward
- Lord High Chancellor
- Lord High Treasurer
- Lord President of the Council
- Lord Privy Seal
- Lord Great Chamberlain
- Lord High Constable
- Earl Marshal
- Lord High Admiral
The Great Officers had varying duties. The Lord High Steward was a ceremonial officer, as are the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Earl Marshal. The Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Constable, and Lord High Admiral were originally responsible for monetary, army, and naval matters respectively. The Lord President of the Council is responsible for presiding over the meetings of the Privy Council. The Lord Privy Seal is a sinecure office, though he is technically the Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Lord Chancellor has the greatest range of functions: he is the Keeper of the Great Seal, the Speaker of the House of Lords, the most senior judge in England and Wales, and a cabinet minister responsible for the Lord Chancellor's Department (now Department for Constitutional Affairs).