Myrtle Lloyd has been appointed as the 22nd Registrar General for England and Wales since civil registration began in 1837.
Her appointment to become the head of the General Register Office (GRO) has been formally made by the Queen and took effect from 1 April 2020. She succeeds the previous Registrar General, Mark Thomson, who is retiring from the civil service at the end of May.
The GRO oversees registration services to the public, including the registration of marriages, civil partnerships, births, deaths, stillbirths and adoptions.
Registrar General Myrtle Lloyd said:
I am honoured to have been bestowed the prestigious role of Registrar General for England and Wales. I am particularly looking forward to transforming the way we deliver the services of this important and centuries-old institution, while preserving the core values which have been the hallmark of our success so far.
It is the Registrar General’s responsibility to make the regulations that govern the duties of registrars and the registration processes. The position-holder is also required by law to create and make publicly available a free index of registration records for searching purposes and to issue certificates.
Ms. Lloyd assumes this position alongside her current roles as the Chief Operating Officer of Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) and Head of Profession for Operational Delivery for the Home Office. She is also the anti-bullying, harassment and discrimination champion within HMPO.
For more information about the Registrar General for England and Wales and the GRO, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office.