The office ofLord Lieutenant ofGwent was created on 1 April 1974 as the Monarch's representative covering the newly formedadministrative county of Gwent. By virtue of S.I 1973/1754, the existingLord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire became the first Lord Lieutenant of Gwent.
Following the abolition of Gwent in 1996 by theLocal Government (Wales) Act 1994, the area was redefined as apreserved county. This was subsequently modified to its present area byS.I 2003/974.