Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art


The office of Surveyor of the King's/Queen's Works of Art in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of works of art owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity – as distinct from those owned privately and displayed at Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle and elsewhere.
The office dates from 1928, and has only been full-time since 1972. Sir Lionel Cust, Surveyor of the King's Pictures, had been responsible for works of art from 1901 to 1927.
The current Surveyor, Jonathan Marsden, CVO, was appointed upon the retirement of Sir Hugh Roberts on 20 April 2010. He is also concurrently Director of the Royal Collection for which he chairs a management committee of professional curators and administrators, including Desmond Shawe-Taylor, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures.

List of Surveyors of the King's/Queen's Works of Art