Phipps was treasurer and private secretary to
Prince Albert, as well as Keeper of the Queen's Privy Purse. Following
Prince Albert's death, Phipps, in conjunction with Charles Grey, acted as an unofficial private
secretary to
Queen Victoria. In the minutes of
this despatch,
Blackwood requests that a copy of the New Westminster Municipal Council's condolences to
Queen Victoria be sent to Phipps. Similarly, in
Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke
of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 4 April 1862, CO 305:19, no. 5575, 130,
Douglas forwards condolences from the Legislative Assembly of
Vancouver Island, of which a copy is sent to Phipps.
Phipps was born
27 December 1801, to Henry Phipps, the first Earl of Mulgrave, and Martha Sophia Maling. Phipps served
in the Scots Fusilier Guards as an ensign, lieutenant, and lieutenant colonel before
retiring in
1851. During that time he also served as private secretary to his brother, Constantine
Henry Phipps, the first marquess of Normanby and the governor of Jamaica in
1832. Phipps's career in the royal household as private secretary, treasurer, cofferer,
and member of the Privy Council afforded him the political confidences of both
Prince Albert and
Queen Victoria. His daughter, Harriet Lepel Phipps, also held an extremely confidential position
as the queen's maid-of-honour and bedchamber woman. Phipps was honoured with Companion of the Order of the Bath in
1853 and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in
1858. On
24 February 1866, Phipps died of bronchitis and was buried at St. George's Chapel in Windsor on
2 March.