The Royal Squadron originally known as the Royal Flotilla was an ad hoc
naval formation of the British
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
assembled for official visits and travel by sea by the
British monarch
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with their powers regulated by the British con ...
.
History
The Royal Squadron originally known as the Royal Flotilla was an ad hoc naval squadron formed when the Monarch or other members of the royal family are embarked on any travel by sea for official visits. From 1660 until 1884 the squadron/flotilla when assembled was commanded by officers of various rank from
Captain of the Fleet
Fleet captain (US) is a historic military title that was bestowed upon a naval officer who served as chief of staff to a flag officer. In the UK, a captain of the fleet could be appointed to assist an admiral when the admiral had ten or more shi ...
to
Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet or shortened to fleet admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to field marshal and marshal of the air force. An admiral of the fleet is typically senior to an admiral.
It is also a generic ter ...
. From the end of the nineteenth century until the late twentieth century the
Flag Officer, Royal Yachts
The Flag Officer, Royal Yachts, (FORY) also styled Flag Officer Commanding Royal Yachts was a senior Royal Navy post that existed from 1884 to 1997.
History
Royal yachts have been a feature of the monarchy since at least 1660, during this perio ...
was responsible for command of the squadron when one is formed. He temporarily exercised tactical control over Royal Navy, Commonwealth and foreign warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliary that formed the Royal Squadron.
Flag Officer commanding
See also
*
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 ...
References
Footnotes
Sources
* Hansard (1994) "Flag Officer Royal Yachts, vol 236 cc171-2W". hansard.millbanksystems.com. Hansard.
* Naval History Society (1983) "The Royal Yacht Britannia: Naval Historical Review". www.navyhistory.org.au.
* Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. .
{{Squadrons of the Royal Navy, state=collapsed
British royal family
Military units and formations disestablished in 1997