Prince Phillip now Canadian Honorary Admiral/General for 90th Birthday

[The Bread Guy]

This from the PM's office:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has been appointed as an honorary admiral and general in Her Majesty’s Canadian Armed Forces on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

“I am delighted that His Royal Highness has accepted this honour from Canada in recognition of his significant contribution to our national life,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “His unwavering support of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and his commitment to the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as to many other fields of endeavour in this country, are worthy of our highest recognition and deepest gratitude.”

It is the first time that an honorary rank is granted at the highest level of the Canadian Armed Forces, which underscores the importance of the honour being granted to His Royal Highness by Canada.  With these appointments, The Duke of Edinburgh becomes an Admiral in Maritime Command and a General in Land Forces Command and Air Command, and His Royal Highness may choose to wear these ranks on all three uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces ....

More here.

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

just to pot stir... the PMO shouldn't be the one announcing this.
Should be the GG.

 

[The Bread Guy]

just to pot stir... the PMO shouldn't be the one announcing this.
Should be the GG.

He also announced the Royal Tour coming this way this summer - nothing on the GG's site on either of these yet.

 

[Kirkhill]

just to pot stir... the PMO shouldn't be the one announcing this.
Should be the GG.

Interesting point for discussion.

In my view it goes to the heart of the bargain of 1689.  Parliament is supreme.  Not the Sovereign.  The GG is an employee and agent of Her Majesty (even though we pay the bills).

Just as Her Majesty has to be invited to address Parliament it seems reasonable that She should wait to be invited by Her Parliament (with the Prime Minister acting as its voice) before coming visiting one of her sovereign nations.  So on that basis it makes sense that the Royal Tour should be detailed by the PMO.

On the other hand, wrt HRH the Admiral, it does seem to me that it would have been better form if the GG had issued a release something along the lines of:

"On the advice of the Prime Minister, expressing the wishes of Her Subjects, I am pleased to announce that my boss Her Majesty is appointing Her Husband, HRH Phillip Honorary Admiral and General in Her Canadian Forces......"

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

I concur wrt the royal tour especially since it is HRHs Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who have, as I understand it, no constitutional position in Canada. So entirely appropriate for the PMO to announce the tour.

 

[Rheostatic]

Searched to find the rank he wore at the CNC (VAdm), found this comment:

Prince Philip wears the uniform of a Canadian Admiral. Nice to see the restoration of the executive curl. Shame to see the Duke demoted. Canada has never had the equivalent of an Admiral of the Fleet or Grand Admiral, the honourary rank of His Royal Highness in Britain. Prince Philip seems a little naked without his traditional Royal Navy fourth ring and fourth row of buttons.

 

[The Bread Guy]

I concur wrt the royal tour especially since it is HRHs Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who have, as I understand it, no constitutional position in Canada. So entirely appropriate for the PMO to announce the tour.

In fact, when the Queen et. al. came here in 2010, it was, indeed, announced by the GG's office:
http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13403
with no corresponding ann't by the PM.