The Flag Officer, Royal Yachts, (FORY) also styled Flag Officer Commanding Royal Yachts was a senior

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

post that existed from 1884 to 1997.

History

Royal yacht A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head. The royal yacht is most often c ...

s have been a feature of the

monarchy A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state for life or until abdication. The political legitimacy and authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutional monarchy) ...

since at least 1660, during this period command of the Royal Yacht was usually held by a captain. The office of ''Flag Officer, Royal Yachts'' was established by

letters patent Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...

on 15 October 1884. Royal Yachts was an independent command, administered personally by the Flag Officer, Royal Yachts. It was standard protocol for the ''(FORY)'' to be appointed as an

extra equerry An equerry (; from French ' stable', and related to 'squire') is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually up ...

to the monarch and, as such, was a member of the royal household. The post existed until 1997 when it was abolished as separate command.

Duties

At various times included: * Acts as the host at official receptions on behalf of the monarch when the royal yacht visits countries when no member of the royal family is embarked. * Exercises tactical control over

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

and foreign

warships A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and ...

and

Royal Fleet Auxiliary The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is a naval auxiliary fleet owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence. It provides logistical and operational support to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The RFA ensures the Royal Navy is supplied and supported by ...

forming the Royal Squadron when the monarch or other members of the royal family are embarked. * Hosts receptions on behalf of the monarch during sea days or commercial seminars held on board in support of British industry. These events bring FORY into direct and frequent contact with Heads of State and Government, and captains of industry. * Keeps the

First Sea Lord The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1SL/CNS) is the military head of the Royal Navy and Naval Service of the United Kingdom. The First Sea Lord is usually the highest ranking and most senior admiral to serve in the British Armed ...

and Commander in Chief, Fleet informed of all plans in relation to HM Royal Yachts programme. * Responsible for HM Royal Yachts safe and efficient operation at all times. and for the detailed planning of its programme. Note: '' Royal Squadron should not be confused with

Royal Yacht Squadron The Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) is a British yacht club. Its clubhouse is Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. Member yachts are given the suffix RYS to their names, and are permitted (with the appropriate warrant) to we ...

''.

Flag officer commanding

Post holders included: * Vice-Admiral Sir John R. T. Fullerton: October 1884-April 1901 * Rear-Admiral the Hon. Hedworth Lambton: April 1901-April 1903 (Cdre Royal Yachts from 1901 to 1902) * Rear-Admiral Sir

Archibald Berkeley Milne Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne, 2nd Baronet, (2 June 1855 – 4 July 1938) was a senior Royal Navy officer who commanded the Mediterranean Fleet at the outbreak of the First World War. Naval career Milne was the son of distinguished admi ...

, Bt.: April 1903-August 1905 * Rear-Admiral Sir Colin R. Keppel: August 1905-August 1909 * Commodore Norman C. Palmer: August 1909-December 1913 * Commodore Douglas R. L. Nicholson: December 1913-August 1914 * Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand: May 1919-April 1922 * Admiral Sir Henry T. Buller: April 1922-December 1931 * Admiral the Hon. Sir

Herbert Meade Fetherstonhaugh Herbert may refer to: People Individuals * Herbert (musician), a pseudonym of Matthew Herbert Name * Herbert (given name) * Herbert (surname) Places Antarctica * Herbert Mountains, Coats Land * Herbert Sound, Graham Land Australia * Herbert ...

: April 1931-December 1934 * Vice-Admiral Sir Dudley B. N. North: December 1934-September 1939 * Vice-Admiral Sir E. M. Conolly Abel Smith: February 1953-January 1958 * Vice-Admiral Sir

Peter Dawnay Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

: January 1958-January 1962 * Rear-Admiral Sir Joseph C.C. Henley: January 1962-March 1965 * Rear-Admiral Sir Patrick J. Morgan: March 1965-August 1970 * Rear-Admiral Sir Richard J. Trowbridge: August 1970-September 1975 * Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh P. Janion: September 1975-February 1981 * Rear-Admiral Sir Paul W. Greening: February 1981-September 1985 * Rear-Admiral Sir John Garnier: September 1985-September 1990 * Rear-Admiral Sir Robert N. Woodard: September 1990-April 1995 * Commodore Anthony J.C. Morrow: April 1995-December 1997 Note: ''Post holders sometimes styled as Admiral, Vice-Admiral, Rear-Admiral or Commodore Commanding Royal Yachts or HM Yachts''

Royal Yachts

References

Footnotes Sources * Hansard (1994) "Flag Officer Royal Yachts, vol 236 cc171-2W". hansard.millbanksystems.com. Hansard. * Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. (2016) "H.M. Yachts (Royal Navy)". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell, England, UK. * Mackie, Colin (2018). "British Armed Forces: Royal Navy Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Scotland, UK. * Naval History Society (1983) "The Royal Yacht Britannia: Naval Historical Review". www.navyhistory.org.au.. {{Naval Service (British), state=collapsed R

History

Duties

Flag officer commanding

Royal Yachts

See also

References