Honorary Military Appointments Given out August 2023

Queen Elizabeth II visiting RAF Marham of which she was Royal Honorary Air Commodore
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On August 10th, 2023, Buckingham Palace announced new Honorary Military appointments given to almost all the Working Royals. The Appointment included 11 previously held by Queen Elizabeth II, 1 by Prince Philip, 6 by King Charles, 1 by Prince William, 2 by Prince Andrew, and 1 position never held by a Royal. 

"The new appointments will continue to reflect the close relationship between the Armed Forces and the Royal Family in His Majesty’s reign."

Queen Elizabeth II's Former Honorary Military Appointments: 

• King Charles 
• Sponsor, HMS Queen Elizabeth
• Note: The ship is named after the first HMS Queen Elizabeth, a World War I era super-dreadnought, which in turn was named after Queen Elizabeth I. 
• Previous Sponsor: 
• Queen Elizabeth II (2014-2022)
• Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief:
• Queen Elizabeth II (Founding 1971 -2022)
• Deputy Colonel-in-Chief
• The Duke of Kent
• (He served in this unit)

• Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Tank Regiment
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief:
• King George VI (?1923-1952)
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• Captain General, The Royal Artillery
• Previous Captain Generals: 
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• Captain General, The Honourable Artillery Company
• Previous Captain Generals: 
• King George VI (?-1952)
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief:
• Queen Elizabeth II (2006-2022)
• Royal Honorary Air Commodore, RAF Marham
• Previous Royal Honorary Air Commodore:
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• Air Commodore-in-Chief, RAF Regiment
• Previous Air Commodore-in-Chief:
• King George VI (1947-1952)
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• Queen Camilla 
• Patron, The Royal Army Chaplains’ Department
• Previous Patron: 
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• Duke of Gloucester 
• Air Commodore-in-Chief, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
• Previous Air Commodore-in-Chief:
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• Duchess of Gloucester 
•  Colonel-in-Chief, Adjutant General’s Corps
• Previous Colonel-in-Cheif
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• (The Duchess of Gloucester was previously Deputy Colonel-in-Cheif)

Prince Philip's Former Honorary Military Appointments: 

• Prince Edward
• Colonel-in-Chief, The Queen’s Royal Hussars
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief:
• Queen Mum (1993-2002)
• Prince Philip (2002-2021)

King Charles II's Former Honorary Military Appointments: 

• Prince William 
• Colonel-in-Chief, The Mercian Regiment
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief
• King Charles (?-2023)
•  Colonel-in-Chief, The Army Air Corps
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief
• King Charles (?-2023)
• (Prince Harry served in)
• Royal Honorary Air Commodore, RAF Valley
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief
• King Charles (?-2023)
• Princess Kate
• Colonel-in-Chief, 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards
• Previous  Commodore-in-Chief
• Prince Edward 
• Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Dragoon Guards
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief
• King Charles (?-2023)
• Deputy Colonel-in-Chef
• Duchess of Kent 
• (No word on whether she will retain that position)
• Duchess Sophie
• Royal Colonel, The Queen’s Own Yeomanry
• Previous Royal Colonel:
• King Charles (?-2023)

Prince William's Former Honorary Military Appointments: 

• Princess Kate 
• Royal Honorary Air Commodore, RAF Coningsby
• Previous Honorary Air Commodore:
• Prince William (2008-2023)

Prince Andrew's Former Honorary Military Appointments: 

• Princess Kate
•  Commodore-in-Chief, Fleet Air Arm
• Previous Commodore-in-Chief:
• Prince Andrew (?-2021)
• (King Charles & Prince Andrew both served in this regiment)
• Duchess Sophie
• Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Irish Regiment
• Previous Colonel-in-Chief:
• Prince Andrew (?-2021)

Not Formerly a Royal  Honorary Military Appointments: 

• Princess Anne
•  Deputy Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
• (Anne is the first royal Deputy)
• Current/Former Colonel-in-Chief
• Queen Elizabeth II (?-2022)
• King Charles (2022-Present)

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