Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom

Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom
Flag of the Lord High Admiral
Charles III in 2024
since 2022
TypeGreat Officer of State
AppointerThe Monarch
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Precursor
Formation
  • 1800 (United Kingdom)
  • 1707 (Great Britain)
  • 1385 (England)
First holderThe 3rd Earl of Arundel
as High Admiral of England, Ireland and Aquitaine
DeputyVice-Admiral of the United Kingdom

The Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom (of England beginning in the 14th century, later of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800)[1] is the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy. Most have been courtiers or members of the British royal family, and not professional naval officers. The Lord High Admiral is one of the nine English Great Officers of State and since 2021 is held personally by the reigning monarch (currently King Charles III, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces).[2]

  1. ^ "Lord High Admiral's Divisions takes place at BRNC | Royal Navy". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Ministry of Defence, 2 May 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  2. ^ "A celebration of the King's Naval links in the West Country". Greatest Hits Radio. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023. Upon H.M the Queen's death, the title of Lord High Admiral, previously held by The Duke of Edinburgh (a gift for his 90th Birthday) and subsequently Her Majesty, has reverted back to the crown. Whilst the King may choose to grant the position to someone else, it is a position that he holds by default, as without a Lord High Admiral there can be no navy. As sovereign King Charles III now also holds the position of Admiral of the Fleet as his mother did before him.

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