The Royal Navy Marked the HM Queen's Accession To The Throne - The Royal Navy marked the anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne by flying pennants the length of the Amphibious Command and Control Ship BULWARK.   The saluting gun at Fort Blockhouse at Gosport – at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour – was fired at noon by four specialist gunnery instructors from HMS COLLINGWOOD with all ships alongside “dressed overall” with colourful flags stretching the entire length of the ship.   Other events took place around the fleet.

It is appropriate to review the current posts held by members of the Royal Family as under:-

·         HM Queen - Sovereign is Head of the Armed Forces

·         The Duke of Edinburgh holds the position of Lord High Admiral in the Royal Navy and the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy, he is also Admiral of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Captain General of the Royal Marines.   As a serving naval officer HRH Prince Philip served with the Royal Navy rising to the rank of Commander being mentioned in despatches in 1941.

·         The Prince of Wales holds the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy and is Commodore-in-Chief for Plymouth. He also served in the Royal Navy.

·         HRH Prince William holds the rank of Lieutenant in the RAF and is Commodore-in-Chief for Scotland and Submarines. The Prince undertook an attachment with the Royal Navy in 2008.

·         The Duke of York holds the rank of Captain and is Commodore-in-Chief for the Fleet Air Arm. Prince Andrew served for over 20 years in the Royal Navy where he saw active service as part of the Task Force that sailed to the South Atlantic to regain the Falkland Islands in 1982.

·         The Earl of Wessex is Commodore-in-Chief for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Prince Edward spent three years in the Royal Marines as a University Cadet.    

·         The Princess Royal holds the rank of Rear Admiral as Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy. She has Special Relationships with the Plymouth based Fleet Submarine TALENT and the Assault Ship ALBION and is Commodore-in-Chief for Portsmouth.

·         Prince Michael of Kent holds the rank of Honorary Rear Admiral Royal Naval Reserve and is Commodore-in-Chief of the Maritime Reserve.

One cannot help but ask where’s Harry ?