Chris Ghika Explained

Sir Christopher Ghika
Birth Date: 28 September 1969 df=y
Birth Place:Wimbledon, England
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Serviceyears:1993–2023
Rank:Major General
Unit:Irish Guards
Commands:London District
Household Division
1st Battalion Irish Guards
Battles:The Troubles
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards:Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Legion of Merit (United States)

Major General Sir Christopher John Ghika, (born 28 September 1969) is a retired senior British Army officer. He was deputy commander of the US-led military coalition against ISIS, the Combined Joined Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, from 2018 to 2019 and Major-General commanding the Household Division from 2019 to 2023.

Early life

Ghika is the son of Brigadier Prince John Nicholas Ghika, CBE (1928–2003),[1] [2] an Irish Guards officer who traced his royal title back to 1658, when the Ghica dynasty (A dynasty of Albanian origin[3] [4]) ruled over Moldavia, later Wallachia, and finally the Kingdom of Romania. Chris Ghika does not use the title "Prince" publicly.[5] He was educated at Ampleforth College.[6] [7]

Military career

Ghika was commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1993, upon completing the commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. After various field and staff roles, he became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, in 2010. He was deployed as the head of a battlegroup, as a lieutenant colonel, to Helmand Province, Afghanistan.[8] He later went on to be Deputy Commander of the 1st (US) Infantry Division in 2014, Head of Personnel Capability in the Army Headquarters in September 2015, and Deputy Commander Strategy and Information of Combined Joined Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in 2018.[9] [10] [11]

Ghika was appointed Major-General commanding the Household Division on 15 November 2019.[12] In June 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, he was responsible for the modified Trooping the Colour ceremony at Windsor Castle.[13] He was appointed the commanding officer of the procession to Westminster Hall and the subsequent funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.[14] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order during an audience with King Charles III on 28 June 2023; during this audience he relinquished his appointment as Major-General commanding the Household Division and also as GOC London.[15] He formally retired from the army on 30 December 2023.

Ghika became Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Irish Guards on 10 June 2022.

Later career

After relinquishing his appointment as Major-General commanding the Household Division and retiring from the army after 30 years of service, Ghika became Under Treasurer and Chief Executive at the Middle Temple in July 2023.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "No. 48212". The London Gazette (Supplement). 48212. 14 June 1980.
  2. https://www.christopherlong.co.uk/gen/relationsgen/fg23/fg23_463.html Family Group Sheet
  3. Book: Spânu, Vlad. Historical Dictionary of Moldova. 2004. Scarecrow Press, INC.. 4501 forbes blvd lanham md 20706. 978-0-8108-5607-3. 14 October 2013. 164.
  4. Book: Richardson, Charles Francis. The International Cyclopedia: A Compendium of Human Knowledge, Rev. with Large Additions, Volume 6. 1898. 14 October 2013.
  5. Web site: British general in Iran controversy is a Romanian prince. 17 May 2019. Washington Examiner. 12 December 2019.
  6. Web site: Ampleforth Society Announcement Ampleforth Society. www.ampleforth.org.uk. 2020-06-16.
  7. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1441714/Brigadier-Prince-John-Ghika.html Brigadier Prince John Ghika
  8. Web site: Major-General Chris Ghika CBE. Inherent Resolve. 15 November 2019.
  9. News: U.K. Military Official Contradicts U.S. on Iranian Threat. Time. en. 2019-07-12.
  10. News: No increased threat from Iran-backed forces, anti-ISIS coalition leader says. Ryan Browne and Jamie Crawford. CNN. 2019-05-21.
  11. Web site: Pentagon disputes British general's assessment on Iranian threat. Rempfer. Kyle. 2019-05-14. Military Times. en-US. 2019-07-12.
  12. Web site: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyInLondon/?hc_ref=ARTnYg6aCHZ78v_N6L_6KTjrzs7_R8hRwEQspEoqfIql0xXtIYnPVcMVmt34ktA7lU4&fref=nf&__xts__[0=68.ARAoas6xqOJWjGN1jDtT5LLSJQr2_pgU1IHpYZssW6wj0RbENIuhF9DvX7HisyEM1jfdSCxcMD4d0GnZBjruk--JU61RXJlSXkEr7qMBvpLcz3FCvv69QHr_lShtm67dEzzwp1UBFiDwbAGH4yIeVoBC3QCrqnhCP2SFcknzcRD1swiL1WKbRc6shCtKQ8PUujPhDEnWjOB7lR0pVZyAQCOkqh4VZO0ueiPhOSNr7NQiMXQJL4jqO1_UPBGHwivZpPWwiXGVzWZNbslAzcOxbYGmq5IqkYdczmQXR_hnyIOzz4Pl&__tn__=kC-R The Army in London – HQ London District]. Ministry of Defence. 15 November 2019.
  13. News: Coronavirus: Queen's official birthday to be marked with new ceremony . BBC News . 13 June 2020 . 13 June 2020.
  14. Web site: William and Harry to walk behind Queen's coffin to Westminster Hall. BBC. 2022-09-14. 14 September 2022.
  15. News: Court Circular . royal.gov . 28 June 2023 .
  16. Web site: Welcome to our new Under Treasurer . Middle Temple . 8 July 2023.