MCC Is Granted Royal Charter

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has been notified by the Privy Council Office that it has been granted a Royal Charter by Her Majesty The Queen. 

The Charter, which comes into effect on 1st July 2013, alters the Club’s current status from that of unincorporated association to become a body incorporated by Royal Charter.
 
In May 2011, MCC established an Incorporation & Structure Working Party (ISWP) under the chairmanship of Peter Leaver QC to consider the status and governance of the Club. The ISWP recommended incorporation by Royal Charter to MCC’s 18,000-strong membership, a recommendation duly approved by a 97.4% majority at a Special General Meeting in June 2012.
 
The Club accordingly sent a petition to the Privy Council, together with a draft Charter. It was considered and approved by The Queen at a meeting of the Privy Council on 12th December 2012.
 
Incorporation will enable the Club to hold assets – not least Lord’s itself – in its own name, rather than through a custodian trustee. It will also remove any potential liability of individual Members – as owners of the Club – in the event of MCC finding itself in great financial difficulty.  The ISWP will now embark on reviewing the Club’s structure with a view to making recommendations to the MCC Committee and MCC Members.
 
MCC President, Mike Griffith, said:  "After two previously unsuccessful attempts, it is a great honour to be incorporated by Royal Charter – and one of which the Club is immensely proud. MCC plays an important role in the promotion, protection and development of cricket – it is a private members’ club with a very public responsibility. This Charter means we can better protect our Members’ rights and assets, and strengthens our ability to work for the good of game in the UK and abroad."
 
MCC’s unsuccessful petitions to incorporate by Royal Charter came in 1864 and 1929.  At a Special General Meeting of MCC held on 2nd May 1929, MCC Members approved a Resolution that the Club should Petition to The King’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council for the grant of a charter of incorporation.  The Petition was afterwards submitted to, but declined by the Privy Council.  It was explained to the MCC Committee that Royal Charters had never been granted to a body whose objects are the promotion of sport and athletics.