Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom (of England beginning in the 14th century, later of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800) is the title of the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy. Most have been courtiers or members of the British royal family, and not professional naval officers. The Lord High Admiral is one of the nine English Great Officers of State and since 2021 is held personally by the reigning monarch (currently King Charles III, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces).

History In 1385 Richard Fitzalan, 4th Earl of Arundel, was appointed Admiral of England, reuniting the offices of Admiral of the North and Admiral of the West, separate from 1294. From 1388 the offices of Admiral of the North and of the West were again distinct, though often held by the same man, until "Admirals of England" were appointed continuously from 1406. The titles "High Admiral" and "Lord Admiral" were both used, eventually combining in "Lord High Admiral". The Lord High Admiral did not originally have command at sea, but had jurisdiction over maritime affairs and the authority to establish courts of Admiralty.

During the reign of Henry VIII (1509–47) the English Navy had expanded to a point where it could not be managed by a single Lord High Admiral alone, therefore day-to-day management of the navy was handed over to a committee that later became known as the Navy Board. The navy board had Samuel Pepys as one of its members during the reign of Charles II (1660–85), and it ran side-by-side with the Board of Admiralty.

From the early 17th century onwards, when an individual Lord High Admiral was appointed, there was also a Council of the Lord High Admiral which assisted him to perform some of the duties of the Admiralty. When this office was not occupied by an individual, it was "put into commission" and exercised by a Board of Admiralty headed by a First Lord of the Admiralty; this was the usual arrangement from 1709 until it was merged with the Admiralty in 1832.

However, the office of Lord High Admiral, which—except for brief periods during its long history—had remained extant, was not abolished as an official naval post until 1964. In 1964, the office of First Lord of the Admiralty was also abolished and the functions of the Lords Commissioners of Admiralty were transferred to the new Admiralty Board becoming a sub-committee (Navy) of the tri-service Defence Council of the United Kingdom. The ancient title, however, of Lord High Admiral was resumed—by the sovereign personally.

Elizabeth II held the title for the next 47 years until, in 2011, she conferred the office upon her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to celebrate his 90th birthday. Philip had served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, but he gave up a promising naval career to support Elizabeth as her consort.

Current status Upon Prince Philip's death in 2021, the identity of the holder of the office became obscure, i.e., there has been no official announcement about the office's holder since then. It is unknown whether the office of Lord High Admiral reverted to the Crown, or if it is currently vacant, in which case it remains as such until His Majesty either assumes it, or bestows it upon someone else. The Ministry of Defence confirmed they did not hold information on the issue, but suggested it had been resumed by Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown. Upon Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, the office was reported to have been passed to King Charles III. The office is understood to be held by the monarch (currently King Charles III) by default and can be granted to whoever is chosen by the monarch.

List of high admirals

England and Ireland, 1385–1512 High Admiral Term of office Richard FitzAlan, 4th Earl of Arundel 1385 1388 Edward, Earl of Rutland 1390 1397 John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset 1397 1398 Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester 1398 1400 Thomas of Lancaster, Duke of Clarence 1404 1405 John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset 1406 1407 Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent 1407 1408 Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter 1408 1426 John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford 1426 1435 John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter 1435 1447 William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk 1447 1450 Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter 1450 1460 Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick 1461 1462 William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent 1462 1462 Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1462 1470 Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick 1470 1471 Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1471 1483 John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk 1483 1485 John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford 1485 1512

England, 1512–1638 Lord Admiral Term of office Sir Edward Howard 1512 1513 Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey 1513 1525 Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset 1525 1536 William Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton 1536 1540 John Russell, Lord Russell 1540 1542 John Dudley, Viscount Lisle 1542 1546 Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley 1546 1549 John Dudley Earl of Warwick 1549 1550 Edward Clinton, Lord Clinton 1550 1554 William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham 1554 1558 Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln 1558 1585 Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of EffinghamEarl of Nottingham from 1597 1585 1619 George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham 1619 1628

List of lords high admirals England, 1638–1707 Lord High AdmiralTerm of office Monarch Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland 1638 1642 Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington 1643 1646 Prince James, Duke of York and AlbanyNational Archives, Kew, ref. ADM 4/410 List of the Lords High Admiral and Commissioners for executing that Office, which have been appointed since the year 1660 (1915) 1660 1673Charles II King Charles II 1673 1673 Prince Rupert, Duke of Cumberland 1673 1679Office in commission 1679 1684 King Charles II 1684 1685 King James II 1685 1688 James II King William III 1689 1689Mary II&William IIIOffice in commission 1689 1702Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke 1702 1702 1702 1702Anne Prince George, Duke of Cumberland 1702 1707

Great Britain, 1707–1800 Before 1707 there was an office of Lord High Admiral of Scotland. Following the Act of Union 1707, all jurisdictions were placed under the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain. Lord High AdmiralTerm of office Monarch Prince George, Duke of Cumberland 1707 1708Anne Queen Anne 1708 1708 Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke 1708 1709Office in commission 1709 1714 1714 1727 George I 1727 1760 George II 1760 1800 George III

United Kingdom, 1801–present Lord High AdmiralTerm of office MonarchOffice in commission 1801 1820 George IIIThe Prince of Wales served as prince regent from 5 February 1811. 1820 1827George IV Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews 1827 1828Office in commission 1828 1830 1830 1837 William IV 1837 1901 Victoria 1901 1910 Edward VII 1910 1936 George V 1936 1936 Edward VIII 1936 1952 George VI 1952 1964Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II 1964 2011 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11437314" 2011 2021 Queen Elizabeth II 2021 2022 King Charles III 2022 present Charles III

Former command flags

Tudor period

The earliest known instructions given to the Lord Admiral to fly command flags were given by King Henry VIII in 1545. The Lord Admiral was ordered to fly the flag of the arms of the King on the top of the main masthead, with the flag of the cross of Saint George on the top of the front (fore) masthead.

See also Lord High Admiral of Scotland Lord High Admiral of the Wash Lord High Admiral of Sweden First Lord of the Admiralty

References

Sources Houbraken, Jacobus. Thoyras, Paul de Rapin. Vertue, George. (1747). The History of England, A List of Admirals of England (1224-1745). England. Kanpton. P and J. Reference