Royal Patronage To The Forces

[sp1814]

We have a Royal Navy, a Royal Air Force but the Army is just referred to as the Army, not the Royal Army.

Why is that???

[puck]

Thre is only one Navy & one Air Force but the Army consists on several Regiments & Corps.
Many of these have the word Royal at the start of their names.

[Joe_the_Lion]

Being a former soldier in The Intelligence Corps, it was still refered to as The Royal Intelligence Corps if working in the tri-service sector, as I was. Likewise there was and some still use a royal or regal sounding Prefix.

The history of the army is different to the other two. Like puck says, there are many different sections, some of which have their root in other commonwealth countries and in the case of The New Model Army and some scotch ones, were actually fighting royalty!!!

I often wonder why it is not a Royal Police Force, as they receive their power and authority direct from Her Majesty.

[sp1814]

Puck/JTL - thank you for your responses...I didn't know that there were 'several' army sectors as opposed to a single Air/Sea-faring force.

Makes sense now.

[Quizmonster]

Historians often dispute the claim but members of the Royal Navy itself generally believe it was originally created by King Alfred the Great in the 9th century...hence the 'royal'. (The actual phrase 'Royal Navy' did not appear anywhere in print before the 16th century, however.)

Of course, kings in history and throughout the world had armies long before they had navies, but these were generally recruited on an ad hoc basis in order to fight specific threats or campaigns. At the end of their necessity, they simply disbanded until next time. It is claimed, however, that there has been an 'established', permanent English - now British - navy since Alfred's day.

The RAF was formed at the end of World War I and given its 'royal' title at the time, having grown out of the Royal Flying Corps, when King George V was on the British throne.

Consequently, both the RN and RAF were specifically created in the name of a King and hence called �Royal'...the Army never was.

[geo0939]

Joe_the_Lion, As a former member of the Royal Military Police I got to know a number of members of the Intelligence Corps. However, I'm sure that none of them would have used the expression' some scotch ones' when referring to 'Scottish' soldiers. To get the word wrong is bad enough, but not even to capitalise it, really!

[Joe_the_Lion]

If you search my name against the word "scotch", you will soon realise it is a term I use.

Believe it or not, I am aware of the difference between a single malt and Sean Connery. But thanks for the correction.

[saxy_jag]

I remember reading somewhere about doctor spock's answer. Something about the Army having fought against the crown and so not being entitled to use the term 'royal'?

[Joe_the_Lion]

Was that not The New Model Army, i aforementioned?

[sifellis]

Whilst serving in the Military with the RN i asked the very same question.

I was told that it was becuase during battle the Army lost the kings colours (the flag paraded at battles which was quite a trophy) and he decreed that they would never represent the Monarchy and that is the reason for 'Britich Army'.

[RosinaS]

Hi, the Womens Army was always referred to as the WomensRoyal Army Corps, before it was assimulated into The Army, but I have never thought The Army was itself not Royal, after all we have The Royal Artillery, (Gunners)The Royal Armoured Corps (Tankies) The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, how intriguing that the Womens Army should be referred to as The Womens Royal Army Corps, but The Army is just that The Army WOW

[hellywellywo]

My was in the The Royal Signals. But the soliders do swear allegiance to Queen And Country.

[bshistorian]

The simplest answer is that the Navy was created and funded by the king, at a time when they really did have absolute power over defence matters. Hence "Royal" Navy.

The army was originally set up as a sort of franchise operation, with each regiment run and funded by a Colonel. Certain regiments and corps were given the title "Royal" as an honour.

One of those corps was the Royal Engineers, from which came the Royal Flying Corps. That corps plus the Royal Naval Air Service merged to form the Royal Air Force, explaining why the RAF is "Royal". The Royal Marines are likewise a Royal unit, and are also within a Royal service (the Navy).

So the RAF is a descendant of a Royal part of the army, and the Navy had been the king or queen's own armed force for over 100 years before the army was even formed.