Ambassador
An ambassador is the official representative of one state to another or to an international organization such as the United Nations. The host country typically allows the ambassador and any consuls control of specific territory called an embassy or consulate respectively. The territory, staff and even vehicles used by the mission are usually afforded diplomatic immunity to most laws of the host country.
Representatives of the mission in cities other than the capital are called consuls.
Previously, ambassadors were known as minister, e.g. "Minister for France."
Among members of the Commonwealth, ambassadors are known as High Commissioners and embassies are known as High Commissions due to the fact that they do or did at one time share a common head of state.
In the case of ambassadors to and from the United Kingdom, they are actually appointed to or from the Court of St James as the royal court of the UK, rather that to the State.
See also
