Re: MILITARY RANK, NOT EARNED
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:12 am
The reason for the Royals specifically to receive these bumps in rank are that they are patrons of regiments or are honorarily ranked for certain positions etc. to allow them to act in an official capacity on behalf of the armed services.
For the most part they aren't qualified to serve officially in that rank but they do all tend to have served in one or more of the services so they do have some experience.
For the most part the actual rank hierarchy is observed as you couldn't realistically have say the 'figure head' head of the British Army as a mere captain and so they are made a general of some sort.
Even outside the Royal family certain billets automatically out-rank others and so provide promotions regardless of the postees previous rank. For example a naval commander might be billeted to the command of an aircraft carrier (and group) which would in most navys automatically make them an Admiral so as to out-rank all others onboard of the same rank (captain of the air-operations arm for example) and any other captains within the carrier group.
This is much in the same way that a captain within a fleet can be named commodore so as to out-rank all other captains (regardless of length of service,experience etc.) without having to fundamentally upset the fleet's hierarchy.
Prince Charles served in the Navy to the rank of Captain (HMS Bronington) but is now ranked as General of the British Army, Admiral of the Royal Navy and Air Chief Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
The unique rank is essentially to allow them to out-rank the plebs yet still remain officially neutral in a similar fashion to a position like Sergeant Major of the 'service' ( a US armed forces position within a given service) which is a specific position that offically out-ranks other Sergeant Majors but who's roles and responsibilities are completely different and so there is never an issue as to 'who ranks higher'.
If you fancy a laugh have a look at the titles that the queen has at
Camilla is a great example as she married Charles, was given the title of Duchess of Cornwall by the queen and so then was automatically made;
Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion of The Rifles
Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton
Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming
Commodore-in-Chief of the Naval Medical Services
Lady sponsor of HMS Astute
Crazy!
For the most part they aren't qualified to serve officially in that rank but they do all tend to have served in one or more of the services so they do have some experience.
For the most part the actual rank hierarchy is observed as you couldn't realistically have say the 'figure head' head of the British Army as a mere captain and so they are made a general of some sort.
Even outside the Royal family certain billets automatically out-rank others and so provide promotions regardless of the postees previous rank. For example a naval commander might be billeted to the command of an aircraft carrier (and group) which would in most navys automatically make them an Admiral so as to out-rank all others onboard of the same rank (captain of the air-operations arm for example) and any other captains within the carrier group.
This is much in the same way that a captain within a fleet can be named commodore so as to out-rank all other captains (regardless of length of service,experience etc.) without having to fundamentally upset the fleet's hierarchy.
Prince Charles served in the Navy to the rank of Captain (HMS Bronington) but is now ranked as General of the British Army, Admiral of the Royal Navy and Air Chief Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
The unique rank is essentially to allow them to out-rank the plebs yet still remain officially neutral in a similar fashion to a position like Sergeant Major of the 'service' ( a US armed forces position within a given service) which is a specific position that offically out-ranks other Sergeant Majors but who's roles and responsibilities are completely different and so there is never an issue as to 'who ranks higher'.
If you fancy a laugh have a look at the titles that the queen has at
Camilla is a great example as she married Charles, was given the title of Duchess of Cornwall by the queen and so then was automatically made;
Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion of The Rifles
Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton
Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming
Commodore-in-Chief of the Naval Medical Services
Lady sponsor of HMS Astute
Crazy!