In a historic ceremony at HM Naval Base Devonport, Her Majesty The Queen was formally appointed Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom by the Royal Navy, reviving a title that dates back to the reign of Henry VIII.
The Queen received the honorary appointment while visiting HMS Astute, the UK’s first hunter-killer submarine of its class, to mark the end of its first commission. Rear Admiral Andy Perks, Head of the Submarine Service, presented Her Majesty with a burgee – a naval pennant – in recognition of her ongoing support for the Royal Navy.
“We are honoured to welcome Her Majesty The Queen to HM Naval Base Devonport,” said First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins RM. “Her Majesty’s visit has been a tremendous boost to morale, and the honorary appointment reflects the high regard in which Her Majesty is held by all of us.”
The appointment of Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom, most recently held by the late Admiral the Lord Boyce, is largely ceremonial but symbolises deep ties with the Royal Navy. The King remains Lord High Admiral, the Navy’s ceremonial head.
As Sponsor of HMS Astute, The Queen attended a ceremony marking the end of the submarine’s first commission – the longest of any Royal Navy submarine at 15 years. The vessel is now set to undergo a significant overhaul known as a Mid Life Re-Validation Period (MLRP), led by Babcock International and supported by the Ministry of Defence.
Commander Christopher Bate, Commanding Officer of HMS Astute, praised The Queen’s longstanding connection to the submarine, which she named nearly 20 years ago as The Duchess of Cornwall.
“Her Majesty The Queen has supported us from the very beginning,” said Commander Bate. “She has consistently shown a deep commitment to all aspects of our work. Her continued engagement with our activities and achievements over the years has meant a great deal to us. It is a proud and memorable moment to welcome Her Majesty to HMS Astute and for her to meet our families as we mark the end of our first commission.”
The Queen inspected a Guard of Honour of submariners, joined the ship’s company on the submarine’s casing for photographs with former commanding officers, and took part in a ceremonial lowering of the Ensign and Union Flag as the National Anthem played.
Following the ceremony, the crew conducted a traditional “Cheer Ship” for their Sponsor. Her Majesty then joined the 100-strong crew and their families at a garden party held at HMS Drake, where she met with submariners and addressed those in attendance.
During its commission, HMS Astute achieved several firsts for its class: it became the first Astute-class submarine to pass through the Suez Canal, visit the United States for extensive sonar and weapons trials, and travel to Australia to support HMS Queen Elizabeth’s deployment and the AUKUS defence partnership.
In addition to her role with HMS Astute, The Queen is Sponsor of the UK’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Walesand serves as Commodore-in-Chief of both the Royal Navy Medical Service and the Naval Chaplaincy Services.
