Q&A: What Admiral of the Yellow meant

What did promotion to Admiral of the Yellow mean?

It was effectively a reserve or retirement mechanism: the officer received admiral’s rank but would not serve at sea again.

The red, white, and blue flag ranks belonged to the Royal Navy’s active seniority system. Admiral of the Yellow did not represent another operational fleet. Promotion to it gave an officer rank and status while moving him into reserve and ending the expectation of further sea command. The device let the institution clear the active list without describing the change as a simple dismissal.