Rear Admiral Sir Paul Woollven Greening (4 June 1928 – 5 November 2008) was a

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 ...

officer and courtier, who served as

Naval Secretary The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy officer who advises the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on naval officer appointing (and General Officers). Their counterpart in the British Army is the Military Secretary. The Royal Air Force equi ...

and

Master of the Household The Master of the Household is the operational head (see Chief operating officer) of the "below stairs" elements of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. The role has charge of the domestic staff, from the Royal Kitchens, the pages and foot ...

Naval career

Educated at Mowden School and the Nautical College at Pangbourne, Greening joined the

in 1946.Debrett's People of Today 1994 He was given command of the

minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

s HMS ''Asheldham'', HMS ''Messina'', HMS ''Lewiston'' and then the frigate HMS ''Jaguar''. He was appointed Fleet Plans Officer for the

Far East Fleet The Far East Fleet (also called the Far East Station) was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed between 1952 and 1971. During the Second World War, the Eastern Fleet included many ships and personnel from other navies, including those of the ...

in 1969 and, following his promotion to Captain, given command of the frigate HMS ''Aurora'' in 1970. He went on to be Captain, Naval Drafting in 1971, Director of Seaman Officer Appointments in 1974 and Captain of the

Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a ci ...

in 1976. Promoted to rear admiral, he became

in 1978 and Flag Officer, Royal Yachts with specific responsibility for HM Yacht ''Britannia'' in 1981. He was responsible for planning the honeymoon of the

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

and Princess of Wales in August 1981.Obituary: Rear Admiral Sir Paul Greening
Daily Telegraph, 19 November 2008 He retired in 1985. He was appointed an Extra Equerry to

the Queen In the English-speaking world, The Queen most commonly refers to: * Elizabeth II (1926–2022), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death The Queen may also refer to: * Camilla, Queen Consort (born 1947), ...

in 1983 and

of the Sovereign from 1986 to 1992.

Family

In 1951 he married Monica West (pre-deceased); they had a son and daughter.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Greening, Paul 1928 births 2008 deaths People educated at Pangbourne College Royal Navy rear admirals Military personnel from Sussex Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Masters of the Household