# What is the naval rank held by Prince Charles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995 "2012-06-04T03:26:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/21 "2012-06-06T22:15:03Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > To say nothing of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, back in the day: [http://www.annefrankguide.net/en-GB/content/princess\_elizabeth.jpg](http://www.annefrankguide.net/en-GB/content/princess_elizabeth.jpg) > > The only other time I’ve seen Her Majesty in uniform was for Trooping the Colour, and that was some years ago; she usually wears civvies nowadays, and rides in a carriage rather than on horseback. Here are some pics - can anyone tell what rank she displayed? (Of course she’s CINC and could wear whatever she chose). > > [http://www.skydive.ru/uploads/posts/2011-10/1318317723\_guards-3.jpg](http://www.skydive.ru/uploads/posts/2011-10/1318317723_guards-3.jpg) > [ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](http://imageshack.us/f/202/79222514vi.jpg/) > [http://www.flickr.com/photos/32892154@N04/6784854784/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/32892154@N04/6784854784/) > [http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/31/article-2152889-0000537D00000CB2-104\_964x623.jpg](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/31/article-2152889-0000537D00000CB2-104_964x623.jpg) > [http://www.mediastorehouse.com/image/trooping\_the\_colour\_london\_britain\_1986\_503710.jpg](http://www.mediastorehouse.com/image/trooping_the_colour_london_britain_1986_503710.jpg) > [http://img.bfdc.co.uk/covers/w530/2005\_TroopMS\_WestHP.jpg](http://img.bfdc.co.uk/covers/w530/2005_TroopMS_WestHP.jpg) > > Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in Royal Navy or RAF uniform. > > Princess Anne has taken to wearing uniform in recent years: > > [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/\_e9OLDZlTqHI/TBQubJgB8QI/AAAAAAAAARU/MdjzeiAgdnE/s1600/2010-06-12--TroopingtheColour--BauerGriffin-Zimbio.jpg](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_e9OLDZlTqHI/TBQubJgB8QI/AAAAAAAAARU/MdjzeiAgdnE/s1600/2010-06-12--TroopingtheColour--BauerGriffin-Zimbio.jpg) This is just a guess, but I reckon those are the uniforms of the Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment that is doing the Trooping. It’s likely the same for Princess Anne, as she holds that position with several regiments as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/22 "2012-06-07T00:23:06Z")
The uniform on display at the Guards Museum in London has the insignia of a colonel. That’s also what [Prince Philip](http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2011/06/13/112916-stunning-kate-middleton-celebrates-trooping-the-colour-in-regal-style.jpg) wears when he’s in his Grenadier Guards uniform. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/23 "2012-06-07T04:02:47Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Prince Charles does not hold the highest rank in any of the services; his father does. Prince Phillip is Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet, and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Fair call but I still stand by the Pink Tutu :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/24 "2012-06-07T12:55:32Z")
> [@notquitekarpov](#): > > Not least, as Private Eye would put it to avoid being sued, that he was an ‘outrageous hetrosexual’. > > Prince or not, that would not have been popular in the Royal Marines. I know a Royal Marine and, from conversations, their dislike of him has more to do with laziness and lack of mental stamina. Not only has he just not got what it takes - most of us don’t - but he didn’t really try. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/25 "2012-06-07T13:10:32Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > …Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen [the Queen] in Royal Navy or RAF uniform… Has anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/26 "2012-06-07T13:34:59Z")
Camilla tells me he’s an outie. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/27 "2012-06-07T13:37:13Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Prince Charles does not hold the highest rank in any of the services; his father does. Prince Phillip is Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet, and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Phillip got bumped up from Admiral of the Fleet to Lord High Admiral for his 90th birthday, taking over the post from his wife. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/28 "2012-06-07T13:51:12Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Phillip got bumped up from Admiral of the Fleet to Lord High Admiral for his 90th birthday, taking over the post from his wife. Although “bumped up” may not be correct - I’ve never really figured out the very top of the Royal Navy’s structure. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/29 "2012-06-16T18:25:44Z")
[As of today](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18468118), he’s an Admiral of the Fleet (and a Field Marshal and Marshal of the RAF). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/30 "2012-06-16T19:18:11Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I find it fascinating that whoever wrote his military bio thought it important to note that he took a one day course in escaping from a submarine. He has a job lined up. There’s no need for him to pad his resume like that. That’s just a pre-emptive strike against submarine wielding supervillains who might get the idea to kidnap him. Ha HA! He’s been trained to escape from submarines! ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/31 "2012-06-16T21:11:51Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > That’s just a pre-emptive strike against submarine wielding supervillains who might get the idea to kidnap him. > > Ha HA! He’s been trained to escape from submarines! This could be a British version of Air Force One (the movie)! And very appropriate for a seafaring nation, one might add. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/32 "2012-06-17T17:53:57Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > …Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen [the Queen] in Royal Navy or RAF uniform… Still can’t think of any such examples. Which is odd, as her dad wore either Army, Navy or Air Force uniforms on various occasions: [http://www.ww2incolor.com/d/589270-3/KingG](http://www.ww2incolor.com/d/589270-3/KingG) [http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/military\_photos/uniforms/323216d1332517887t-king-george-vi-odd-raf-uniform-per-zio-nuccio.jpg](http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/military_photos/uniforms/323216d1332517887t-king-george-vi-odd-raf-uniform-per-zio-nuccio.jpg) > **[Royalty-Free Stock Photos, Creative Images & Vectors | News, Fashion, and...](https://www.gettyimages.com/)** > > Discover Getty Images' unrivaled collection of royalty-free images to find the perfect stock photo, vector, or illustration that resonates with your customers. [![](http://www.med-dept.com/testimonies/images/nicholas_dangelo/top_brass.jpg) ](http://www.med-dept.com/testimonies/images/nicholas_dangelo/top_brass.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/33 "2012-06-17T18:10:54Z")
Maybe a specially tailored RAF oder Navy uniform for a woman to be worn by the Queen would look somewhat bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/34 "2012-06-17T18:18:57Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Prince Charles does not hold the highest rank in any of the services; his father does. Prince Phillip is Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet, and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Are these totally honorary or, in the event of war, would he actually command the military? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/35 "2012-06-17T18:34:12Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Are these totally honorary or, in the event of war, would he actually command the military? Totally honorary. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/36 "2012-06-17T18:37:39Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Prince Charles does not hold the highest rank in any of the services; his father does. Prince Phillip is Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet, and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. 11 days after you posted this, his mum promoted him to the highest ranks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/37 "2012-06-17T18:45:51Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > 11 days after you posted this, his mum promoted him to the highest ranks. 🙂 Which proves the tremendous impact that SDMB has on the highest circles. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/38 "2012-06-18T01:04:18Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Maybe a specially tailored RAF oder Navy uniform for a woman to be worn by the Queen would look somewhat bizarre. No more bizarre than Princess Anne’s military get-up, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/39 "2012-06-18T01:19:32Z")
I just wanted to point out that in doing some cursory Googling on this issue I found out that the official title of the most senior actual professional officer (e.g. non-honorary title, like the Queen) in the Royal Navy is “First Sea Lord.” That is a goddamned awesome job title. On top of that, for a time in the early 2000s the job was held by some guy who also had an unconnected heriditary title, and so for some years the Royal Navy was commanded by a man who was officially styled, as God is my witness, “Admiral The Lord West of Spithead, First Sea Lord.” Would you mess with a guy called that? The Argentines tried - they sank his ship in 1982 - but look how that turned out for them. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995/40 "2012-06-18T01:50:50Z")
Spithead has had a [lock on the navy for centuries.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_Review) A picture of Lord West and the queen is there. BTW, I think the Queen, when trooping the colors, looks cute as a button. But she probably doesn’t have a lot to say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-naval-rank-held-by-prince-charles/623995.md?page=3)