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Jon wrote:If the monarchy had any political power, Britain would effectively become a dictatorship.

What a great idea! I'd much prefer H.M. to be in charge, rather than this never-ending succession of self-serving, incompetent, corrupt, deceitful, [I could go on, but you get the point] politicians we've had to put up with over the last 4 decades.

f@#k hell, we go to war in Iraq to remove a dictatorship and you want one here!

We went to war in 1939 over a much bigger dictator than the Sad pussycat, and our Royal family were the focal point for the energies of the whole Empire. This country was at it's most powerful under the Queens Elizabeth 1st and Victoria, when entrepeneurs were given a free hand to work their wiles how they would. It was at it's weakest after WW2 and the shite government by power grabbing politicians of all parties, in particular the socialist/communist mob of Atlee and Wilson,which almost finished us, and whose legacy haunts us still.


Aye Owdun.

WELL SAID OWDUN...

I seem to remember signing an oath when in the TA before joining RM and it was totally different to the RM.
I'm sure there is a difference where the RM oath is to Queen and Country where as the other branches of the Armed Forces sign up to the Government and to protect Queen and Country.

I am trying to find the Oaths for the various Armed Forces as there are quite a few differences. Perhaps someone out there knows what everyone signs throughout the British Armed Forces??

Myself Queen and Country any time, lets face it I would rather see her Majesty in charge of the country right now rather than the bloody puppet we have. Experience always wins through and Her Majesty has seen out more PM's than most of us in service to HER country.

I bet this country would be great again if ruled not subjected.

STIRRING mmmmmmmm.

Colin. The oath that I took in 1947 was:-

I (name) swear by Almighty God,that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King George the sixth, His Heirs and Successors,and that I will,as in duty bound,honestly and faithfolly defend his Majesty, His Heirs and Successors,in Person,Crown,And Dignity,against all enemies,and will obey all orders of His Majesty,His Heirs and Successors and of the Generals and Officers set over me.So help me God.

No mention of bloody politicians.

Aye Owdun.

i think when you swear the oath you should be doing it for your country regardless whether you like the monarchy or not

I’m not a monarchist in any sense I believe we should adopt a system like the Netherlands. But it is true that a head of state trained as diplomat without political bias is preferably to president elect. It can be said by some that it is the history rather than the present day monarchy that bring the greatest interest to tourists. For instance the Versailles palace brings in more tourists than Buckingham palace.
However swearing allegiance to the queen as figure-head of the state is the same as swearing allegiance to the state without having to take into account political allegiance to the current head of parliament. The queen as nominal head of state serves a purpose and there good reason to keep her and the monarchy. But the queen has more than enough money to support herself so why keep paying her? Out of tax payers pockets so much!

I joined th RN in 1989 and I don't remember swearing an oath to anyone. Did I miss it or is this an RN custom?

The oath used to be taken at the time of attestation, which in my case was at the recruiting office.

Aye - Andy.

I believe the oath was never a pre-requisite to joining the Royal Navy, I believe the reason lies way back in history,press gangs etc, but I could be way out on this one.


Aye Owdun.

I think my Grandad may have told me that the navy doesn't have to swear an oath? Apparently something to do with their never having rebelled against the crown as some did with Cromwell??

My grandfather served on a frigate in WWII and prior to that was a bugler with the Marines at 14, I think it was.

(I just thought I'd throw that out there...no idea if it's true or not.)

Correct, Frank 'Jack' was not a 'Sworn Man' it do's indeed go back to the days when that great Officer of the 'Press gangs' Lt Andrew Miller reputed to have claimed ownership of the Navy because of the many hundreds of men that he press ganged,hence why the Royal Navy is refered to as the 'Andrew'.Aye JR

Well, there you go, JR

One more snippet of info I've acquired before I move on to 'the other plane'.

I really must try and pass on some of this useless [but interesting] info to my grandkids before I pop my clogs!


Cheers

Big Papa Hapa wrote: Apparently something to do with their never having rebelled against the crown as some did with Cromwell??

Naval Officers still drag their swords because of their involvement in a mutiny!