Alumna Baroness Manningham-Buller Appointed Chancellor of the Order of the Garter

Lady Margaret Hall alumna Baroness Manningham-Buller (1967, English Language and Literature) has been appointed by His Majesty King Charles III as the first female Chancellor of the Order of the Garter since the office’s inception in 1475.

The Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1348, is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry, with members appointed personally by the monarch in recognition of their contribution to public life.

After graduating from LMH, Lady Manningham-Buller enjoyed a 30-year career in the Security Service, specialising in counter-terrorism and eventually going on to hold the post of Director General of MI5 from 2002 to 2007. After MI5 she spent 12 years at the medical charity, Wellcome, including 5 years as its chair. Lady Manningham-Buller sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and was appointed a Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014. 

Following the retirement of her predecessor the Duke of Abercorn, who had held the office since 2012, the King has been “graciously pleased” to appoint Lady Manningham-Buller as Chancellor.