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Date	Original Topic
9th February 2002	Death of H.R.H. Princess Margaret Windsor By Dave Nolan It is my sad duty to inform the visitors to the RDVC site of the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret Windsor, at the age of 71 years on 9th February, 2002. Her Royal Highness was the Great-Great-Grandaughter of Queen Victoria, the Commander in Chief of the British Army in 1879. The Princess was the Patron of the NSPCC, a charity specializing in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children Details of the Trust appear on www.nspcc.org.uk/ If anyone feels so inclined why not visit the site and see what you might be able to do in order to help children in 2002. Dave
Date	Replies
9th February 2002	Martin Everett Dave, While supporting your sentiments, a point of detail. Queen Victoria was not Commander in Chief. The post in 1879 was held by the Queen's uncle Field Marshal The Duke of Cambridge - his actual title was 'Field Marshal Commanding in Chief the Forces'.
9th February 2002	Martin Everett A slip of the key - Field Marshal HRH The Duke of Cambridge was, of course, Cousin to Queen Victoria.
10th February 2002	Dave Nolan Thanks, Martin - I am a little confused. So the reigning monarch was outranked by her cousin? Who gave the officers their commissions, the crown or the Duke of Cambridge? If a soldier received an order from his sovereign that countermanded one from The Duke of Cambridge (hypothetical) which one would he have to obey? Could the Duke of Cambridge mount a coup d'etat by ordering the army against the monarch/state? Even with the D of C's title as 'FM Commanding in Chief the Forces' he was still outranked by the sovereign and Parliament surely? Confused, Dave in Dublin
10th February 2002	Martin Everett Dear Dave, For over 350 years, Britain has had a Constitutional Monarch. The cost of the standing (regular) army has always been voted for by the Members of Parliament. The Commander-in-Chief took his orders from Parliament or more particularly in 1879 from the Secretary of State for War - Earl of Derby. The Queen and State are one - that's why she signs the officers commissions. It is different in the USA where the President is the Commmander-in-Chief US Forces. Queen Victoria never held rank in the army. However later Sovereigns did hold the appointment of Field Marshal. The present Queen has no army rank, apart from her Honorary appointments as Colonel of many regiments and corps. I hope I have not confused you still further.
10th February 2002	John Young Martin, Just to correct your above statement to Dave. At the time of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, the Secretary of State for War was Colonel the Right Hon. Frederick Arthur Stanley, M.P., A.D.C., late Grenadier Guards. It was only on the death of his father that he would become the 16th Earl of Derby. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
10th February 2002	Dave Nolan Thanks Martin and John for your patience. I think it is clearer! Dave
11th February 2002	Mike McCabe King George V assumed by Royal Proclamation (17 July 1917) for his House and family, as well as for all descendants in the male line of Queen Victoria who are subjects of these realms, the name of Windsor. The family name of King George VI was therefore also Windsor, but the late Princess Margaret was more properly known as HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon