The Governor of Bermuda is appointed by His Majesty The King on the advice of the British Prime Minister and holds office during His Majesty’s pleasure. The Governor is responsible for upholding the Bermuda Constitution.
Responsibilities of the Governor of Bermuda
Under Section 62 of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, the Governor’s primary responsibilities in Bermuda include external affairs, defence (including the armed forces), internal security and the police. The Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
Governors are expected to observe international obligations and to protect key values, such as the independence of the Judiciary, the political impartiality of the public service and integrity in the administration of justice. The Governor works closely with the elected Government of Bermuda and meets weekly with the Premier.
View list of previous Governors of Bermuda.
Governor of Bermuda's biography
Appointed by His Majesty The King, His Excellency (HE) Mr Andrew Murdoch was sworn in as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief in January 2025. As Governor, HE serves as His Majesty’s representative and, under the Constitution, has special responsibility for external affairs, defence including armed forces, internal security and the police.
Before becoming Governor, HE was Legal Director and Director of Ocean policy at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where he was responsible for advising on a wide range of issues concerning international law. HE’s previous experience includes law of the sea, ocean policy, climate change, national security, sanctions, international criminal law, and development issues.
HE headed the UK delegation to the International Criminal Court, chaired the UK’s national committee on International Humanitarian Law, and has been involved in multiple international negotiations.
Governor Murdoch previously served in the Royal Navy, qualifying as a barrister in 2000. He has acted as a prosecutor and defence advocate at courts martial and legal advisor to frontline naval units. He has served at sea (destroyers and frigates) and overseas in operational roles. He left the Royal Navy in 2011 as the Navy's principal internal source of advice on international law, joining the Foreign, Commonwealth Office that year. He is the author of the UK military’s guide to maritime security operations and has published several academic articles on law of the sea issues.
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The Deputy Governor of Bermuda
The Deputy Governor is appointed by the Governor in pursuance of instructions given by His Majesty The King through the Secretary of State and holds office during His Majesty’s pleasure. The Deputy Governor acts as Governor during any period when the office of Governor is vacant or the Governor is absent from Bermuda.
Outside of those times, the Deputy Governor chairs or is a member of various committees charged with work under the broad responsibilities of the Governor. The Deputy Governor represents the Governor on the Defence Board and the Emergency Measures Organisation Executive Committee and works with the Bermuda Government on a wide range of issues.
As a UK employee of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Deputy Governor is also responsible to the Governor for ensuring that Bermuda meets the international obligations that the United Kingdom has assumed on its behalf, such as marine, aviation, environment and human rights issues.
Deputy Governor of Bermuda’s biography
Mr Tom Oppenheim was sworn in as Deputy Governor of Bermuda in May 2022.
Prior to coming to Bermuda, Mr Oppenheim served as Counsellor for Press, Public diplomacy and Programmes, at the British Embassy in Moscow. He has served in the British Diplomatic Service since 2006 in a variety of roles covering Economic, Politico-Military, Political, Human Rights and Press work. He has served as Deputy High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, twice at the British Embassy Moscow, and in the British Embassy in Zimbabwe. Before joining the Diplomatic service Tom worked as a financial advisor in the UK.
He is accompanied on this posting by his wife, Elmarie, and their three teenaged children.
Government House
Government House is the official residence of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief and is located in 33-acres of open space in Pembroke Parish. It is also a working office for 13 people employed as executive, secretarial and domestic staff who work with the Governor and Deputy Governor enabling them to work in harmony with the community in the exercise of their duties as set out in the Constitution for a stable, prosperous and well-governed Bermuda.
Due to major renovations required at Government House, the Governor and Staff have temporarily located to a property in Paget.
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