The Lieutenancies Act 1997 has ensured that the County of Gwent remains a preserved County, that is, one of the Counties in Wales as existed immediately before the passing of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994.
As the appointed representative of Her Majesty The Queen in the County, the Lord Lieutenant is the first citizen in the County and takes precedence on all occasions. The only exceptions are occasions of municipal business e.g. Mayoral Inauguration or Freedom ceremonies.
The Lord-Lieutenant’s role is, like the Monarch’s, essentially non-political.
The duties are many and varied but may be broadly classified under the following headings:
The Lord Lieutenant appoints a number of Deputy Lieutenants to assist him in his duties and is supported by a Clerk to the Lieutenancy.
In April 2016 Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Gwent appointed Mr Andrew Tuggey CBE as his Vice Lord Lieutenant.
The role of the Vice Lord Lieutenant is to act for Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant during his absence from the County, through sickness or other inability to act.
There are currently 27 Deputy Lieutenants for Gwent who represent the Lord Lieutenant at his request when necessary.