List of ambassadors of Vishwamitra to the United Kingdom

Ambassador of Vishwamitra to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland संयुक्त अधिराज्य ग्रेट ब्रिटेन और उत्तरी आयरलैंड में विश्वामित्र के राजदूत
Incumbent Rafe Burfield 1st Baron Burfield of Somerset since 17 June 2022
Ministry of External Affairs
Style	The Most Honourable
Residence	Somerset
Nominator	Minister of External Affairs
Appointer	Rashtradhyaksh (as Chief Ambassador)
Term length	On the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh
Inaugural holder	Ava Calero
Formation	22 December 2020

The Ambassador of Vishwamitra to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Hindi: संयुक्त अधिराज्य ग्रेट ब्रिटेन और उत्तरी आयरलैंड में विश्वामित्र के राजदूत) is an officer of the Vishwamitran Ministry of External Affairs and the head of the royal diplomatic mission to the United Kingdom in Somerset. The job has the rank and status of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and is currently Rafe Burfield, 1st Baron Burfield of Somerset, who has held the position since 17 June 2022. The official title of the head of the diplomatic mission is His Illustrious and Royal Vishwamitran Majesty's Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The ambassador's work is assisted by multiple consulates throughout the country that have visiting and reporting responsibilities, as well as consular and trade matters for the embassy.

Responsibilities

Flag of the United Kingdom

The main responsibilities of the ambassador include being the principal representative of the Rashtradhyaksh and the Government of Vishwamitra to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and also to present Vishwamitran policies to the British-born citizens and to the government, and to report British policies and views to the crown and the government, and also to inform all Vishwamitran citizens regarding all major events and news from the United Kingdom. The duties also include directing diplomatic activity in support of trade and for the provision of consular support to Vishwamitran citizens in the United Kingdom and also observe and oversee cultural relations between the two countries.

The following diplomats are under the authority of the Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

• Consul General in Greater London: Reuben Perac (since 17 June 2022)

History

The State of Vishwamitra first officially recognised the United Kingdom as a sovereign state on 1 January 2017 with the grant of official recognition to other states by a presidential decree issued by then Acting President Sarala Baishya on the recommendation of the government headed by Prime Minister Dhrubajyoti Roy.

On 22 December 2020, the diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom was officially established through a royal decree. Ava Calero, formerly Baroness Calero of Lincolnshire was formally appointed as the first Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic thereupon and she remained in office until her removal on 14 April 2021. She was succeeded by Matthew Griffin who went to become a Marshal in the Royal Air Force. The current ambassador is Rafe Burfield, who is also the current Minister of External Affairs resident in Somerset.

List of heads of mission

As of date, three individuals have served as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom. The first office-holder was Ava Calero who served from the establishment of the mission on 22 December 2020 until her honourable dismissal on 14 April 2021. The current office-holder is Rafe Burfield who was appointed on 17 June 2022 and is also the current Minister of External Affairs. The longest-serving ambassador till date is Matthew Griffin who served for 1 year and 64 days in office.

#	Portrait	Title Name (Lifespan)	Term of office Duration in years and days		Location	Appointer (Tenure)
1		Ava Calero अवा कैलेरो (born 2005)	22 December 2020	14 April 2021	Lincolnshire	Rashtradhyaksh II Dhrubajyoti Roy (since 1 August 2020)
			7002113000000000000♠113 days
			Formerly Baroness Calero of Lincolnshire; appointed to serve as the inaugural ambassador and head of the diplomatic mission following its inception on 22 November 2020 and served in office till her honourable dismissal on 14 April 2021. Also served as the Administrator of New Holland between April 2021 and May 2022.
2		Raj Bhushan Marshal Matthew Griffin 1st Count of Essex मैथ्यू ग्रिफिन (born 2003)	14 April 2021	17 June 2022	Essex
			7002429000000000000♠1 year, 64 days
			Appointed to serve as ambassador on 14 April 2021 succeeding Ava Calero. Later went to serve in the Royal Air Force as Commander and Chief of Staff and in the Privy Council. Also served as the inaugural Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and as a nominated member of the former House of Councillors. Subsequently also served as non-resident ambassador to Austenasia and Lundenwic. Resigned as ambassador to the United Kingdom in order to pursue university studies on 17 June 2022.
3		Raj Bhushan Rafe Burfield 1st Baron Burfield of Somerset राफे बरफ़ील्ड (born 2005)	17 June 2022	Incumbent	Somerset
			7002288000000000000♠288 days
			Served as consul-general in Somerset prior to appointment as ambassador. Appointed as ambassador on 17 June 2022 succeeding Matthew Griffin who had retired the following day. At the time of appointment, he was the Minister of State for External Affairs and subsequently became the Minister of External Affairs on 16 July 2022.

See also

• Foreign relations of Vishwamitra
• List of diplomatic missions of Vishwamitra
• List of heads of the diplomatic missions of Vishwamitra