Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Tammy Sandhu Becomes First Ethnic Minority Woman Vatican Ambassador
Tammy Sandhu is Britain's new ambassador to the Holy See, which is the Vatican's diplomatic government.
She officially began the job after meeting Pope Leo XIV.
She is the first woman from an ethnic minority background to hold this position.
Sandhu was born and raised in Leicester.
Her parents moved to the United Kingdom from Punjab in India during the 1960s.
She has worked as a diplomat for about 20 years.
In her new job, she will work with the Vatican and religious groups.
Her work will cover peace, climate change, artificial intelligence, slavery, trafficking and violence against women and girls.
Leicester-born diplomat Tammy Sandhu has become the UK's new ambassador to the Holy See.
Sandhu presented her credentials to Pope Leo XIV on Monday (31).
She is the first woman from an ethnic minority background to hold the post.
Sandhu has served in the diplomatic service for two decades, including postings in Rabat, Brussels, San Francisco and Chennai.
Her work will include peacebuilding, climate action, artificial-intelligence governance, and efforts against modern slavery and human trafficking.
- Who
- Tammy Sandhu, a Leicester-born British diplomat, has become the UK's ambassador to the Holy See.
- What
- She formally took up the ambassadorial role after presenting her credentials to Pope Leo XIV.
- When
- Monday (31), according to the statement; the articles do not specify the month or year.
- Where
- The appointment concerns Britain's diplomatic mission to the Holy See, in the Vatican.
- Why
- She will work with the Vatican and faith organisations on British foreign-policy priorities, including peacebuilding, climate action, artificial-intelligence governance and tackling exploitation and violence.
- New ambassador
- Tammy Sandhu is the UK's new ambassador to the Holy See.
- Historic first
- She is the first woman from an ethnic minority background to hold the post.
- Credentials
- Sandhu presented her credentials to Pope Leo XIV on Monday (31).
- Diplomatic experience
- She has been part of the diplomatic service for two decades.
- Previous postings
- Her previous postings included Rabat, Brussels, San Francisco and Chennai.
- Family background
- Her parents came to the UK from Punjab in India in the 1960s and later established a family business.
- Diplomatic priorities
- Her responsibilities include peacebuilding, climate action, artificial-intelligence governance, modern slavery, human trafficking and violence against women and girls.
- Representation figures
- The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said more than a third of British heads of mission overseas are women, while 14% are from ethnic minority backgrounds.