The Royal Hospital was established by Letters Patent by King Charles II. Since 1702 it has been governed by a Board of Commissioners whose composition and powers are set out in the Letters Patent (which have recently been reviewed and revised). The purpose of the Board is to guide the development of The Royal Hospital, ensuring the care and well-being of the Chelsea Pensioners who live here (who are known as In-Pensioners) and safeguarding the historic buildings and grounds, which it owns in trust.

Currently the Board has eighteen members, some of whom are appointed ex-officio (such as the Paymaster General and the Governor). Up to ten of the Commissioners are specially appointed, for a three year term, by the Crown. The Letters Patent require Commissioners to be distinguished in their field. They are selected because of their management experience and the skills gained in senior positions in the professions, business or commerce that they are able to contribute to the Board.

From time to time vacancies arise for new specially appointed Commissioners. Commissioners will almost invariably have demonstrated a career record of high achievement in the public and/or private sectors in fields relevant to the management of the Royal Hospital. Anyone interested in being considered for appointment as a Commissioner should write to the Secretary of the Royal Hospital with a brief explanation of their relevant qualifications and an up to date CV.

The Board of Commissioners currently comprises of:

HM Paymaster General
The Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Minister of State for the Armed Forces
Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare, and Veterans
Director Resources and Command Secretary (Army)  
Director General of Army Medical Services
Assistant Chief of the General Staff
Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Professor Dame Janet Husband DBE FMedSci FRCP FRCR
Stuart Corbyn Esq
David McDonough Esq OBE
Merlin Waterson Esq CBE
Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH DL Esq
Justin Fenwick Esq QC
Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett
Professor the Lord Kakkar
David Rosier Esq 

Senior Staff and Departmental Heads:

The Governor: General Sir Redmond Watt KCB KCVO CBE DL
Lieutenant Governor: Major General Peter Currie CB
Secretary and Accounting Officer: Paul Hatt Esq
Adjutant: Colonel Simon Bate OBE
Physician & Surgeon: Doctor Fergus Keating MBBS MRCGP
Matron: Colonel L Bale RRC
Quartermaster and Director of Facilities: Lt Col Andy Hickling MBE
Chaplain: The Reverend Richard (Dick) Whittington MBE
Acting Group Finance Director: Jo-Ann Kucharska ACMA, CGMA, ACIS
Business Development Director: John Blake MCIM MBA DipM 

To view our annual report, please click here.