Sixty Joyless De-Britished Uncrowned Commonpoor Years (1949-2009)

Elizabeth II Vice-Regal Saint: Remembering Paul Comtois (1895–1966), Lt.-Governor of Québec
Britannic Inheritance: Britain's proud legacy. What legacy will America leave?
English Debate: Daniel Hannan revels in making mince meat of Gordon Brown
Crazy Canucks: British MP banned from Canada on national security grounds
Happy St. Patrick's: Will Ireland ever return to the Commonwealth?
Voyage Through the Commonwealth: World cruise around the faded bits of pink.
No Queen for the Green: The Green Party of Canada votes to dispense with monarchy.
"Sir Edward Kennedy": The Queen has awarded the senator an honorary Knighthood.
President Obama: Hates Britain, but is keen to meet the Queen?
The Princess Royal: Princess Anne "outstanding" in Australia.
H.M.S. Victory: In 1744, 1000 sailors went down with a cargo of gold.
Queen's Commonwealth: Britain is letting the Commonwealth die.
Justice Kirby: His support for monarchy almost lost him appointment to High Court
Royal Military Academy: Sandhurst abolishes the Apostles' Creed.
Air Marshal Alec Maisner, R.I.P. Half Polish, half German and 100% British.
Cherie Blair: Not a vain, self regarding, shallow thinking viper after all.
Harry Potter: Celebrated rich kid thinks the Royals should not be celebrated
The Royal Jelly: A new king has been coronated, and his subjects are in a merry mood
Victoria Cross: Australian TROOPER MARK DONALDSON awarded the VC
Godless Buses: Royal Navy veteran, Ron Heather, refuses to drive his bus
Labour's Class War: To expunge those with the slightest pretensions to gentility
100 Top English Novels of All Time: The Essential Fictional Library
BIG BEN: Celebrating 150 Years of the Clock Tower

Monday 2 June 2008

Prince William Joins the Senior Service

Sub-Lieutenant William Wales entered the Royal Navy today and will serve in HMS Iron Duke after undergoing three weeks of basic training, the latest stage in a military career that has seen him deployed in all three Armed Services.

APTOPIX BRITAIN  PRINCE WILLIAMRear Admiral Bob Cooling, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, said yesterday that William’s attachment would be rigorous and challenging, and he spoke with pride about the Prince joining Iron Duke to patrol the waters of the Caribbean for cocaine drug smugglers. The Rear Admiral said:

"It will be a thrill and privilege – not a pain in the ass – for the ship’s company. If we treated him like some super-VIP and tailored a programme for him and walked around on eggshells, then it would be difficult. But he is going to come in just like any other young officer and do all the things young officers get involved in. As far as the training goes, it’s very rigorous. We don’t have passengers out in warships for obvious reasons and he will need to be able to pull his weight in an emergency. The Royal Navy in general, and HMS Iron Duke in particular, are very much looking forward to having this opportunity to show our future King what we do."

7 comments:

Beaverbrook said...

I'm glad you said he will serve in HMS Iron Duke and not on it. So much of the press incorrectly states that he'll be serving on the ship, but as anyone who knows about sea life and the importance of naval terminology, will know that we serve in ships and not on them!

Lord Best said...

I like Rear Admiral Bob Cooling's attitude.
How often is the future head of state of a country in active military sevice in any other country. Not often these days.

Wellington said...

Did someone say Iron Duke? I'm all ears, please state your pleasure.

Si's blog said...

Interesting that the original HMS Iron Duke was Jellicoe's flagship. Jutland was May 31 - June 1 1916. The fickle finger points again.

mrcawp said...

Oh Jutland!

Incidentally, I have a ship's bell from one of the British ships of that affray hanging in my garden (my grandfather and great uncle fought in it), along with ludicrous other trinkets. I'm not sure if they're unlucky or not...

Anonymous said...

Well said about serving in ships. Unfortunately, 95% of people you will speak with in the Canadian Navy these days can't get it right.

Anonymous said...

I think he looks better in Army patrol blues... ;)