The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire is contacted through the office of the Under-Sheriff (see below).

It is important to provide as much notice as possible. The High Sheriff always has a very full diary, and it is sensible to advise the Under Sheriff of a forthcoming event long before a formal invitation is sent out.

It is essential that prior to an event the High Sheriff is provided with the fullest possible information about the event, including details of the organisation, who will be present, the venue, the nature of the event, and the level of formality.

If the High Sheriff is to be invited to make a speech, it is essential that reasonable notice is provided, and there is an opportunity for the exact nature of the speech to be discussed and agreed well before the event.

Addressing the High Sheriff: in writing the envelope should be addressed to 'Her Majesty's High Sheriff for Buckinghamshire', or 'The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire', and the letter should start 'Dear High Sheriff', or 'Dear Mr………….' When in company, the High Sheriff can be addressed as 'High Sheriff', or 'Mr….………', or even by his first name, if and when he invites it.

If formal Court Dress is requested, it is important that the event befits this attire. It is useful for the High Sheriff to know whether the wearing of the Court Dress sword might cause difficulty or offence, for instance in church services.            

Precedence:                                                                                        

It should be noted that the High Sheriff is second in precedence only to the Lord-Lieutenant throughout the ceremonial county of Buckinghamshire (which includes Milton Keynes).

When an address or speech is being made in the presence of the Lord-Lieutenant or High Sheriff the speaker should firstly acknowledge the presence of the representatives of the Crown, for instance "Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Chancellor, ladies and gentlemen……….." or "High Sheriff, Chairman, my lords, ladies and gentlemen……".

When processions are being formed, the Lord-Lieutenant will take precedence, followed by the High Sheriff. It is usual that the spouses of each office should be included in the procession, either alongside the L-L or HS, or in a separate grouping. Note: it is customary for High Sheriffs to defer to Mayors and local authority Chairmen on civic occasions in their districts.

When the Lord-Lieutenant has appointed his Vice-Lieutenant or a Deputy Lieutenant to officiate at an event in his absence, the stand-in carries the same leading precedence as the Lord-Lieutenant himself, and the High Sheriff would defer.