Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms)


Thomas Woodcock , Garter Principal King of Arms, is a member of the Royal Household and the senior herald and genealogist at the College of Arms in London.

Personal

Woodcock was educated at Eton College before going up to University College, Durham, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then pursued further studies at Darwin College, Cambridge, becoming LLB. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple.
In 1998, Woodcock married Lucinda Harmsworth King.

Career

Woodcock began his heraldic career in 1975 as a research assistant to Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter King of Arms. In 1978 he was appointed Rouge Croix Pursuivant. In 1982 he was promoted to Somerset Herald, becoming Norroy and Ulster in 1997, then Garter Principal King of Arms on 1 April 2010.

Honours

Woodcock was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1996 Birthday Honours, promoted Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2011 Birthday Honours. Appointed Genealogist of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem in June 2017 in succession to William Hunt, Windsor Herald, in July 2018 he became an Officer of the Order.
A Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Lancashire since December 2005, he assists the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Shuttleworth, to represent Queen Elizabeth II throughout the county.

Arms