FOI202500014S King's Messengers
Published 20 May 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
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0.1 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - REQUEST REF: FOI202500014S
Thank you for your email of 20 April 2025 asking for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. You asked:
1) Please can you disclose the total of King’s Messengers since April 2024 (information found from FOI request FOI2024/00002S), and the total number of King’s Messengers at this point in time?
2) What pay band, pay grade or the total salary would these King’s Messengers be awarded currently?
3) How many trips by airplane on average would a King’s Messenger have per year?
4) Would such flights be via government aircraft or via standard passenger airlines or a mixture of both?
5) What’s the most unusual form of transportation listed in reports that’s been used by a King’s Messenger ( or formerly Queens Messenger) in the 21st century?
I am writing to confirm that we have now completed the search for the information which you requested.
However, I can confirm that FCDO Services does hold information relevant to your request, as set out below.
1) We maintain a current workforce of 15 King’s Messengers;
2) The salary is based on that of a grade C4 officer – please refer to FOI2025/00001S Pay Bands and Structures Across Grades - GOV.UK for details of the current salary band;
3) Withheld under Section 24(1) – see below.
4) All flights are provided by commercial entities;
5) King’s Messengers travel the globe by air, land and occasionally sea in all temperatures and climates – as detailed here; https://www.fcdoservices.gov.uk/what-we-offer/secure-logistics/kings-messengers/
Section 24(1)
I can confirm that FCDO Services holds some information relevant to your request. However, this information is exempt under Section 24 (1) (National Security) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Section 24 is a qualified exemption, which means that it is subject to a public interest test. We acknowledge the public interest in openness and transparency, but we consider that there is also a public interest in FCDO Services protecting national security. Having reviewed the requested material, we are concerned that its release would undermine the effective operation of the King’s Messenger service, and consequently adversely impact on the UK’s security. We have therefore concluded that the exemption applies and that withholding the material serves the public interest better than release in this instance.
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Yours sincerely,