The Prime Minister was the head of the Star Kingdom of Manticore's government. He or she was appointed by the monarch and needed the support of a majority in parliament to get elected. In 1900 PD, Lord Allen Summervale, Duke of Cromarty, was the Prime Minister, and had been for many years. (HH1) After he died in a Masadan assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth III and Protector Benjamin IX, Michael Janvier, Baron High Ridge, took over against the expressed wish of the Queen. (HH9) He was himself replaced by William Alexander five years later when the Second Havenite-Manticoran War began and the failure of the High Ridge government became obvious. (HH10)