The position of Lord-Lieutenant of Shetland was created when that of Lord-Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland was divided in 1948. Lord-Lieutenants of Shetland, since 1948, have been:
- Sir Arthur Nicolson - 8 April 1948 – 25 April 1952
- Sir Basil Hamilton Hebden Neven-Spence MC - 21 July 1952 – 1963
- Robert Hunter Wingate Bruce - 5 July 1963 – 1982
- Magnus Macdonald Shearer - 6 October 1982 – 1994
- Sir John Hamilton Scott KCVO - 25 February 1994 – 2011
- Bobby Hunter CVO - 30 November 2011 – 5 April 2024
- Lindsay William Tulloch QPM – 6 April 2024 - present