The Defence Council of the United Kingdom is the supreme governing body of the British Armed Forces. It was established by the Defence Act 1964, which statutorily delegated the military authority of the Crown, as head of the Armed Forces, to the Defence Council. It has the power of "command and administration" over the military.
A sign erected under the auspices of the Defence Council
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the British Armed Forces and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The chief of the defence staff is based at the Ministry of Defence and works alongside the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the ministry's senior civil servant. The Chief of Defence is the highest ranking officer to currently serve in the armed forces.
Image: Air Vice Marshal Dickson near Venafro, Italy (cropped)
Image: Lord Mountbatten Naval in colour Allan Warren
Image: General Sir Richard Hull speaks to officers (cropped)