SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

DONATE NOW
British Royals

Queen Camilla takes military patronage held for decades by Queen Elizabeth II

By
11th August 2023

Queen Camilla is to become the patron of the army organisation that cares for the spiritual needs of the military.

Her Majesty is now patron of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department which provides pastoral care and moral guidance to all members, regardless of their own personal faith.

The Queen follows Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as patron.

Queen Elizabeth II paid a special tribute to the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department in 2019 when she attended a ceremony marking 100 years since her grandfather, King George V, bestowed the name ‘royal’. King George made the decision following World War One where 179 chaplains were killed and three were awarded the Victoria Cross.

The Royal Army Chaplains’ Department was established in 1796 to care for the Army’s spiritual needs. It expanded rapidly during the Crimean War where 26,000 troops were originally deployed with just one chaplain. Ultimately, sixty chaplains would be deployed.

Until 1827, only members of the Church of England could be part of the department. Catholic chaplains were recruited from the mid 19th century along with Methodist and Presbyterian leaders. Jewish chaplains joined from 1892 onwards.

The department is now all officer and all members are ordained clergy or an authorised and qualified religious leader from the Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh or Muslim communities.

All wear uniform and can lead and manage troops but they do not have executive authority. As well as delivering pastoral care both at home and overseas, army chaplains provide spiritual support at all levels and offer moral guidance and ethical leadership.

The Department is also looking to recruit a non-uniformed non-religious pastoral officer in the near future, an historic moment that will happen under the patronage of Queen Camilla.

Her Majesty’s new role is one of a wide range of military appointments announced by Buckingham Palace. The King has taken on the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Regiment of Scotland and of the Royal Tank Regiment and becomes Air Commodore-in-Chief of the RAF. His Majesty is also Sponsor of HMS Elizabeth.

Share:
About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.