It remained first in precedence in the counties, until the reign of Edward VII, when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the Crown as the Sovereign's personal representative. Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as Sheriff was retitled High Sheriff.
The original county position held precedence until Edward VII's reign, when an Order in Council elevated the Lord-Lieutenant to a more prominent role as the Crown's personal representative. The Local Government Act of 1972 later rebranded the Sheriff office as High Sheriff on April 1, 1974.