Request for information: Lieutenant Charles Prince, RN

Good Afternoon,

I am currently conducting some initial research regarding the career of a naval officer named Charles Prince, but am experiencing some difficulties since I lack even basic search parameters (e.g. Service Number). He must have had a Service Record, but I was unable to find any trace of it.

According to information collected several years ago by a friend of mine, Prince was admitted as a cadet to the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in 1918. After having completed his naval training in he spent periods on board various British warships. Prince continued his naval training at the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth, and completed it at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which he left in April 1926 as an honorary Lieutenant.

Since this kind of inquiries are way out of my comfort zone, I would welcome any advice and/or inputs. I would be particularly interested to learn if photos would be available of this gentleman during the period of his naval training.

KR,
Christian

 

Hi Christian,

Do you have a date and place of birth for this man and did he have any middle names?
Regards
Hugh

 

Unique to the Services RN Officers did not have an Official (Service) No. until the 1970s.
You could try searching the Navy Lists
Navy lists - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland

Tim

 

He was born on 10 October 1903 in Brussels, Belgium.

 

Dear friends,

Please allow me, first and foremost, to thank you for your kind and valuable assistance.

Some new developments:

Apparently, it would seem my initial information regarding Prince's RN career was somewhat incomplete.
I recently learned that, before entering the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, as from February 1917, Prince also attended the Osborne Naval College.

Also, I just received two pictures by PM which I uploaded hereunder.



KR,
Christian

 

I didn't realise he was actually Prince Charles of Belguim rather than Charles Prince
Prince Regent Charles | The Belgian Monarchy

There are some pieces in the British Newspaper Archives about him but I don't have access. Will check other records.
Regards
Hugh

 

Well done Hugh.

Tim

 

The cat's out the bag! I had hoped no-one would figure it out (or at least no so soon)
Charles Prince was indeed an alias.

The general idea here was (and still is) to attempt to find out more about Charles' time in the RN (about which very little has transpired) and how this may have shaped his personality. Who were his friends? How did he adapt to Navy life and discipline? How was he rated by his superiors?

His father (King Albert I) wanted to temper young Charles' independent, rebellious, volatile nature ; he therefor made sure of an environment where Charles wouldn't enjoy any privileges. The Royal Navy seems to have been the perfect choice.

Please note that, in Belgium, Charles still remains a somewhat controversial figure. As a result, this thread may trigger some 'spicy' reactions (which is what I wanted to avoid).

KR,
Christian

 

For me as a maritime researcher though it is important to have basic facts such as full real name, date, place of birth etc - I have gone down enough rabbit holes and it saves me time. I enjoy forums such as this but it is not my life.

Not really an issue for me personally as I don't know of him. I just keep to the research I let the mods deal with the other stuff
Regards
Hugh

 

Thanks for wasting our time

Tim

 

Dear Hugh & Tim,

As I tried to clarify earlier, my intentions were to gain insight on Charles' days in the RN detached from any subjectivity or prejudice related to his royal status. I also intended to avoid tainted inputs or invite inappropriate reactions based on existing controversy, political or ideological biases.

In essence: the focus of my request for information lay solely and entirely on 'Charles Prince' (listed under that name with the RN) and not on 'Prince Charles' (the Regent).

Your prompt reactions and feedbacks - for which I am grateful - made me realise, however, I went about this the wrong way.
Please hereby accept my sincere apologies ; I should have been more forthright in the stating my intentions.

As to the relevance of my initial request, the years Charles spent in the Royal Navy unquestionably had a profound impact on him as a young man. It clearly shaped his character and personality. I therefor submit that his RN-training/tutoring hugely influenced his future actions during the war and his subsequent policy as Regent. Available information regarding those years are, however, very scarce which, in my view, warranted some further digging.

Thank you for your understanding,
KR,
Christian

 

No worries Christian.

You may wish to obtain this file from TNA Kew ADM 116/2378 (H.R.H. Prince Charles of Belgium and H.R.H. Prince Nicolas of Romania - Service with Royal Navy) not sure if you will find a proper service record for him though.

I know he served in 1921 aboard HMS THUNDERER and HMS RENOWN as a midshipman.

The Navy List and the London Gazette of 1927 shows him as Lieutenant, 26 March 1927 (Honorary Officers in His Majesty's Fleet)

Admiralty, 26th March, 1927. In pursuance of His Majesty's pleasure, His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Belgium has been appointed an Honorary Lieutenant in His Majesty's Fleet. 26th Mar. 1927

Regards
Hugh

 

More pictures here: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/...9/prince-charles-of-belgium-count-of-flanders

Trove: NEW KING OF THE BELGIANS - A Link With Brisbane Exclusive Autograph - The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934) - 28 Feb 1934

Trove may have more.

Good hunting

John