One of the first members of the Royal Family to meet women serving in the Women's Royal Naval Service (W.R.N.S.) at Chatham was H.M. King George V in 1918. He made a wartime visit to the Medway Towns during the First World War and inspected members of the Women's Royal Naval Service who were drawn up on parade on Dock Road, as His Majesty walked from the Dockyard to the Royal Marines Barracks. The above image shows the King inspecting the Wrens with the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore, Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee to the right of the photograph.
In 1939, H.M. Queen Elizabeth became the Commandant-in-Chief of the W.omen's Royal Naval Service. Since then many senior female members of the Royal Family have served in honorary roles with the Service. Both H.R.H. Princess Marina, the late Duchess of Kent and H.R.H. Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, have served as Chief Commandant of the W.R.N.S. In this role, both made official visits to Chatham Naval Base.
Image © Chatham HistoricDockyard Trust
