Colonel-in-chief: Difference between revisions

'''Colonel-in-chief''' is a ceremonial position in a military [[regiment]]. It is in common use in several [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] armies, where it is held by the regiment's [[patron]], usually a member of the royal family.

 

 

== History ==

{{section stub|date=November 2015}}

 

 

 

== Role ==

 

The position of colonel-in-chief is distinct from the other ceremonial regimental posts of [[Colonel (United Kingdom)#Ceremonial usage|colonel of the regiment]] and [[Colonel (United Kingdom)#Honorary Colonel|honorary colonel]], which are usually retired military officers or public figures with ties to the regiment.

Colonels-in-chief are appointed at the invitation of the regiment. While it is traditional for a royal personage to hold the position,{{cn|date=September 2022}} it is at the discretion of each regiment whom they invite.

 

*[[Abdullah II of Jordan]] - [[Light Dragoons|The Light Dragoons]]

 

In the past non-royal persons have held, or been invited to hold, the post of colonel-in-chief. The [[Duke of Wellington]] was colonel-in-chief of [[Duke of Wellington's Regiment|the regiment that bore his name]]. The [[Governor General of Canada]] [[Adrienne Clarkson]] was invited to be colonel-in-chief of [[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/local/story.html?id=44f65e8c-cc5c-42ec-b757-1374a99fd6d5&k=0 |title=Clarkson to be given military honour |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418232503/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/local/story.html?id=44f65e8c-cc5c-42ec-b757-1374a99fd6d5&k=0 |archivedate=April 18, 2008 |work=Edmonton Journal |date=4 February 2007}}</ref> while the [[Royal Australian Army Medical Corps]] decided to ask the [[Governor-General of Australia]] to serve as its colonel-in-chief.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1167/topstories/story21.htm |title=GG’s new role |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052621/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1167/topstories/story21.htm |archivedate=2016-03-04 |publisher=Department of Defence |date=31 May 2007}}</ref>

====Royal Navy (styled Commodore-in-Chief)====

 

* [[Royal Naval Reserve|Maritime Reserves]] — [[Prince Michael of Kent]]

* Small Ships and Diving — ''vacant''

 

==== British Army ====

 

*[[Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry|The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry]] — ''vacant''

 

=====Infantry=====

*[[Yorkshire Regiment|The Royal Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)]] — ''vacant''

 

 

=====Combat Service Support=====

*[[Small Arms School Corps]] — ''vacant''

 

==== Royal Air Force (styled Honorary Air Commodore) ====

 

* [[RAF Regiment]] — [[Stephen Dalton|Sir Stephen Dalton]]

* [[RAF Ascension Island]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Akrotiri]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Benson]] — Prince Michael of Kent (styled Honorary Air Marshal)

* [[RAF Boulmer]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Cosford]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Cranwell]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Digby]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Gibraltar]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Henlow]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF High Wycombe]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Honington]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Lossiemouth]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Northolt]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Shawbury]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Spadeadam]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF St Mawgan]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Syerston]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Woodvale]] — ''vacant''

* [[RAF Wyton]] — ''vacant''

* 7006 Squadron, [[Royal Auxiliary Air Force]] — [[Christopher Andrew (historian)|Christopher Andrew]]

 

===Australia===

*[[Corps of Royal Australian Engineers]] — ''vacant''

*[[Royal Australian Infantry Corps]] — ''vacant''

*[[Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps]] — ''vacant''

*[[Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|Corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers]] — ''vacant''

*[[Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps]] — ''vacant''

 

===== Royal Canadian Armoured Corps =====

 

 

===== Royal Canadian Infantry Corps =====

 

* [[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]] — [[Adrienne Clarkson]]

* [[Essex and Kent Scottish]] — [[Prince Michael of Kent]]

 

 

 

===Malaysia===

*[[Royal Ranger Regiment]] — Raja [[Sirajuddin of Perlis]]

*[[Malaysian Royal Armoured Corps|Royal Armoured Corps]] — Sultan [[Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu]]

 

=====Combat Support=====

*[[Royal Artillery Regiment]] and [[Kor Risik DiRaja|Royal Intelligence Corps]] — Sultan [[Muhammad V of Kelantan]]

*[[Royal Regiment of Engineers]] — Sultan [[Nazrin Shah of Perak]]

 

=====Service Support=====

 

====Royal Malaysian Air Force====

 

====Royal Malaysian Navy====

 

*[[Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps]] — ''vacant'' (styled [[Captain-General]])

*[[Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers]] — ''vacant''

*[[Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment]] — ''vacant''

*[[Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment]] — ''vacant''

 

===Norway===

[[File:Nils Olav inspects the Kings Guard of Norway after being bestowed with a knighthood at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.jpg|thumb|Sir [[Nils Olav]] (a [[king penguin]]) inspects troops of the [[Hans Majestet Kongens Garde|Norwegian Royal Guard]], of which he is Colonel-in-Chief|alt=]]

 

===Papua New Guinea===

 

==References==