Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:40:46-4:43:07

Princess Royal as a revived Royal Navy name

A personal preference for Princess Royal connects an old naval name with Princess Anne and the possibility of reviving a group of royal names.

British MonarchyPrincess Royal (Title)Royal NavyShip Naming
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Question

Which historic Royal Navy ship name should return on a vessel of the same general class?

Short answer

Princess Royal is the preferred revival, ideally within a royal-themed class of major surface combatants.

Notes

Princess Royal is a personal choice for reviving a Royal Navy name, with Princess Anne specifically in mind. A new group of royal names could draw on earlier naming traditions while adding Princess Royal. Large modern destroyers could carry names once used by capital ships. Queen Elizabeth retains its formal association with Elizabeth I, while Princess Royal names the office and can also honor its recent holder. Ships called Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II could not serve together without creating confusion.