Legal Definitions - Green Cloth

The term Green Cloth refers historically to the Board of Green Cloth, a significant administrative and judicial body within the British Royal Household. This board was historically responsible for managing the monarch's household expenses, overseeing the accounts, and maintaining discipline among the royal staff. It also held a unique judicial jurisdiction over offenses committed within the "verge," which was a specific area (typically 12 miles) around the monarch's person or residence.

While the Board of Green Cloth no longer functions in its original capacity, its historical role provides insight into the intricate legal and administrative structures that once governed the royal court.

• Example 1: Judicial Authority over Offenses

  Imagine a scenario in the late 17th century where a stable hand employed at Hampton Court Palace is accused of stealing a valuable saddle from a visiting nobleman's horse, which was stabled within the palace grounds. Because the alleged theft occurred within the "verge" of the royal residence, the matter would not have been handled by ordinary local courts. Instead, the Board of Green Cloth would have had the authority to investigate the accusation, hear the case, and impose a suitable punishment on the stable hand, demonstrating its unique judicial power over crimes committed within the royal domain.

• Example 2: Management of Household Accounts

  Consider a baker in 18th-century London who regularly supplied bread to Buckingham Palace. If the baker believed he had been underpaid for a large delivery or that his invoices were incorrectly processed by the royal household staff, he would have presented his grievance to the Board of Green Cloth. This body was responsible for scrutinizing and approving the household's financial accounts, ensuring fair payment to suppliers, and resolving any disputes related to expenditures, thereby illustrating its role in financial administration.

• Example 3: Staff Discipline and Conduct

  During the Victorian era, a footman serving at Windsor Castle was repeatedly found to be neglecting his duties, arriving late, and showing insolence towards senior household officials. Such breaches of conduct and discipline among the royal staff would have been brought before the Board of Green Cloth. The Board would have convened to hear the complaints, assess the evidence, and decide on appropriate disciplinary action, which could range from a formal reprimand to dismissal from royal service, showcasing its authority over the conduct of household employees.