See moodustati praegusel kujul (Välis-, Rahvaste Ühenduse ja Arengu ministeeriumina) 2020. aastal, kui liideti Välis- ja Rahvaste Ühenduse ministeerium (FCO) ja Rahvusvahelise arengu osakond (DFID).[2] FCO ise moodustati 1968. aastal Välisministeeriumi (FO) ja Rahvaste Ühenduse ministeeriumi liitmisega.
Ministeeriumi igapäevatööd juhib kantsler (ametlikult välisasjade alaline alasekretär), kes on ka Tema Majesteedi Diplomaatilise Teenistuse eesotsas. Septembrist 2020 on Suurbritannia välisministeeriumi kantsler Philip Barton.
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Feske, Victor H. (2019). The Road To Suez: The British Foreign Office and the Quai D'Orsay, 1951–1957. The Diplomats, 1939–1979. Lk 167–200. DOI:10.2307/j.ctv8pz9nc.11. S2CID188825766.
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