Benjamin Herman

Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin John Herman, LVO (born 1934), was Private Secretary to The Princess Royal 1974-1976.

He was educated at Bedford School.

He joined the Royal Marines in 1953, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1954, receiving a regular commission in 1955. Herman served with 40 Commando, Royal Marines, and was Military Assistant and Aide-de-Camp to the Commandant-General Royal Marines in 1964. He attended the Royal Naval Staff College in 1966.

He was promoted to Major 1971.

He joined the Office of the Princess Royal in 1974, having been Equerry to the Duke of Edinburgh 1971-1974.

After his service in the Royal Household he returned to the Royal Marines, and did the Senior Officers War Course in 1976, and joined the staff of the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command, Commando Training Centre (1976-). He was Chief Training Officer 1977-1978, and was a Lieutenant-Colonel by 1981.

The Household of The Princess Royal provides the administrative support to the Princess Royal, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. It is based at Buckingham Palace, and is headed by the Private Secretary.

The Household is separate from the Royal Household and is funded from the Civil List annuity paid to The Princess Royal for her public duties - which is however reimbursed to HM Treasury by The Queen.

Colonel Herman was made a MVO in 1974 and subsequently an LVO in 1976.