Honorary or not .......

[Bazile]

What is the point ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18468118

[boxtops]

...compensation for not being King....

[pdq1]

I've heard of patronage but this is blo0dy silly!

[Maydup]

He's alright is Charlie, I don't much mind what they call him.

[cathfromsaron]

surely meaningless words, unless he will ever go anywhere and command something for real!

cath x

[Bazile]

There will be a chance for him to justify the promotion , when we go into Syria

[jake-the-peg]

And we used to laugh at all the titles Idi Amin awarded himself!

I see he's a Fellow of the Royal society and an honorary member of the institute of Chartered Accountants not to mention 6 honorary doctorates!

At this rate he might still be the last king of Scotland too!

[craft1948]

I'm a monarchist (please don't throw things) but I don't see the point of this either.

[jake-the-peg]

I think the serious question here is whether sporting all these unearned (let's face it that's what we're talking about here) titles, medals and awards.

A) Diminishes their value with those who've earned them

B) Loses him respect

[AliceTickband]

with you on that one JTP

[askyourgran]

I can't imagine why he has been honoured with Field Marshall that was stopped years ago because of the cost (not sure what cost)Obviously Mummy was taken with the Jubilee speech from her boy and wishes to show her appreciation. Prince Phillip and the Duke of somerwhere else is also a Field Marshall, I suppose its like buying a new puppy before the old dog dies.

[jno]

presumably he will some day be head of the Royal air force and the Royal navy, so it would make sense for him not to be ranked cabin boy or propeller polisher.

(The army isn't "royal" because it fought against the royal family in the civil war.)

[ummmm]

Maybe the queen is thinking of stepping down.

[rockyracoon]

God, ummm, don't say that. I love the royal family but can't bear the thought of King Chas, bring on King Willy!

Getting back to the question, I totally agree with JTP.

[modeller]

I don't often agree with jake but I do on this matter. The award system is nonsense. Each year a lists goes round to to all biggish companies asking them if they wish to nominate someone for an award and quite simply the directors take it in turn to have another bauble. In more recent years its been extended so that you can nominate anyone, be it your postman or the milkman etc. I am told that some friends in my club agreed to nominate each other. I don't know if that was true but last year one of them is now a 'Sir '.

[anotheoldgit]

It would seem that William isn't at all over decorated.

Just the Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals, RAF Wings, Garter Star and Thistle Star.

But I wonder if he will lose the Thistle Star should Scotland gain it's independence?

http://i.dailymail.co...005DC-655_308x519.jpg

[jno]

I don't see why; I still have my Tin Star Third Class issued by King Ottokar of Carpathia. An honour doesn't become less of an honour because the issuing authority has changed.

Besides, an independent Scotland might decide to keep the queen rather than turning to the Catholic Stuart heir

http://en.wikipedia.o...ranz,_Duke_of_Bavaria

[mike11111]

Five star ranks are now purely honorary, except in war time. It used to be the norm for the heads of the services to be promoted to such rank on retirement but this has now stopped. The Duke of Kent has five star rank in the Army whilst the Duke of Gloucester has three star rank in the RAF. The Duke of York has either one or two star rank in the Navy (can't remember which). The Princess Royal also has two star rank in the Navy. They are not active ranks and nothing really to get worked up about.

[tamborine]

Prince Charles is being prepared to stand in if his father's health deteriorates. HM trusts Charles in this position before Duke of Kent.

[tonyav]

Does this mean that if we were at war, he would be in command of all of our forces !

[humbersloop]

No tony, he has people to do that for him.