Prince Charles and Priness Anne newly appointed Commodores-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, today announced that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) have been appointed as Commodores-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. This is the first time in history that members of the Royal Family have been appointed as Commodores-in-Chief of the RCN. The announcement of the appointments coincides with the RCN’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, one of the longest, largest and most complex campaigns of the Second World War.

The appointments will see The Prince of Wales becoming Commodore-in-Chief (Fleet Atlantic) and The Princess Royal becoming Commodore-in-Chief (Fleet Pacific).

The duties associated with the appointments are ceremonial in nature. A Commodore-in-Chief is kept informed of all important activities of their affiliated unit and may engage with the unit in a ceremonial capacity as opportunity allows.

Quick Facts
Commodore-in-Chief is an honorary appointment whose purpose is to maintain a direct link between the unit and the Royal Family. It is bestowed by The Queen on various members of the Royal Family.

The Queen has appointed various members of the Royal Family as Commodores-in-Chief of the British Royal Navy since August 2006.

On 9th April 2007 a monument was re-dedicated to remember the bitter Battle of Vimy Ridge in which more than 3,500 Canadian soldiers died. The Queen of Canada and her Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were present. Prince Philip wore the uniform of the Air Commodores-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Within the ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces, army regiments have members of the Royal Family serve as Colonels-in-Chief. The Royal Canadian Air Force also has The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh serving as Air Commodores-in-Chief – Air Reserves of Canada and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets respectively. Until today, it was only the RCN that did not share this unique relationship with the Royal Family.

The Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George) is Colonel-in-Chief to seven Canadian military regiments.

The Princess Royal (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise) is Colonel-in-Chief of seven Canadian military regiments.

Quotes
“The Royal Family has had a strong relationship with the Royal Canadian Navy since the inception of this proud institution in 1910. I am therefore delighted to welcome the appointments of The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal as the new Commodores-in-Chief of our Royal Canadian Navy. It is fitting that this honour should be bestowed on the anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, during which British and Canadian naval forces fought side by side on the high sea for freedom, peace and democracy.”

Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence