The Astronomer Royal receives a stipend of £100 a year and is a member of the Royal Household, under the general authority of the Lord Chamberlain.

John Flamsteed was the original incumbent of the office of Astronomer Royal being installed in 1675 by Charles II.

Martin Rees is the present day incumbent.

Edmund Halley is undoubtedly the most famous of all the official holders of the office having lent his name to the well-known Halley's comet which reappears every 76 years in Earth's sky.

The title of Astronomer Royal was first bestowed on John Flamsteed by Charles II back in 1675. There are 2 official offices, the senior being the Astronomer Royal and the other being the Astronomer Royal of Scotland which originated in 1834.

Charles instructed Flamsteed to apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation."

In 1972 the holder of the office was no longer also installed as the director of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich which has meant in modern times the title of Astronomer Royal has become a largely honorary one with little actual work to do since the separation of the 2 posts. The office still maintains high prestige and the holder still remains on hand to assist and advise the monarch on Astronomical or scientifically related matters.