 The Church of England 's three senior bishops — the Archbishop of Canterbury , the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London — become Privy Counsellors upon appointment . Senior members of the Royal Family may also be appointed , but this is confined to the current consort and heir apparent and consort . Prince Philip is at present the most senior member by length of service , and he is the only current Privy Counsellor not appointed by the reigning monarch , having been sworn of the Council by her father . The Private Secretary to the Sovereign is always appointed a Privy Counsellor , as are the Lord Chamberlain , the Speaker of the House of Commons , and the Lord Speaker . Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom , judges of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales , senior judges of the Inner House of the Court of Session ( Scotland 's highest law court ) and the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland also join the Privy Council ex officio . 
