The Lord-Lieutenant's Cadet is seen as the aide and representative of the cadet forces to the British royal family and the Lord-lieutenant in an administrative county of England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland. Typically, one is chosen from each of the main cadet forces, the Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and Sea Cadets (United Kingdom). Occasionally, one may also be chosen from the Combined Cadet Force, Police cadets or the St John Ambulance Cadets .^[1] They are selected each year at the Lord-lieutenant's awards in each county.

They provide an essential link between the armed forces and the local community, assist with recruiting within the cadet forces and assist the county's Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.^[2] The cadet from each arm of the cadet forces is selected and appointed based on their outreach and participation within their squadron, detachment or unit, and is seen as one of the highest achievements in the Cadet Forces.

The Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets from the administrative county of Greater London (as of 1965)^{[citation needed]} are appointed from one of the four "quadrants" of London. The locally elected cadets are then decided on, separately, rather than county-wide, like the other counties of the United Kingdom. The current Lord Lieutenant's Cadets of Greater London assumed position on 11 May 2023 and will hold their position until 11 May 2024.

Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets of Rutland are nominated by their local units and appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant in an Investiture Ceremony usually around early October every year. The current Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets assumed position on 12 October 2023 and will hold their position until 12 October 2024.