Queen Elizabeth II’s Speech to the Royal Navy on Retirement of Its World War II Era Flag and Presentation of the New One, Signed

The only signed copy of a speech of an English monarch that we can recall seeing.

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On July 28-29, Queen Elizabeth II visited the ships of the Western Fleet at Torbay, England. On the 29th, at 10 a.m., onboard the flight deck of the strike aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, she presented a “New Colour” to the fleet. The presentation fell exactly 381 years to the day after Sir...

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Queen Elizabeth II’s Speech to the Royal Navy on Retirement of Its World War II Era Flag and Presentation of the New One, Signed

The only signed copy of a speech of an English monarch that we can recall seeing.

On July 28-29, Queen Elizabeth II visited the ships of the Western Fleet at Torbay, England. On the 29th, at 10 a.m., onboard the flight deck of the strike aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, she presented a “New Colour” to the fleet. The presentation fell exactly 381 years to the day after Sir Francis Drake fought the battle of the Spanish Armada to defeat the enemies of Queen Elizabeth I. When the Queen and other members of the Royal Family arrived, 1500 men drawn from the assembled ships were on parade. After the Royal Salute, the Queen inspected the guards, and the massed bands then trooped across the front of the parade. The Old Colour (flag) was then taken down to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, and the drums were piled in front of the dais for the presentation of the New Colour. There was an invocation, and the Queen then handed the New Colour to the officer in charge while the National Anthem was played. The Queen then delivered a short address.

This is a signed copy of that address, on H. M. Yacht Britannia letterhead, 29th July, 1969. “By a fortunate coincidence today, the 29th July is the anniversary of the final naval action in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. This was one of the decisive battles of British history, and it was won by a combination of high standards of seamanship, great tactical ability and the important technical advantage of better guns and more accurate gunnery. These factors are just as important today as they were 381 years ago…Yesterday we visited several ships and met the crews and saw the weapons of the Western Fleet which is responsible for the defense of the United Kingdom at sea. We found what we had expected to find, cheerful efficiency and well-maintained equipment…Colours were first introduced for the Royal Navy by my Grandfather in 1924. The color which has just been marched off was presented in 1937 and in its 32 years it witnessed events just as dangerous and decisive as the defeat of the Armada…It goes into honourable retirement where it will always be a reminder of the gallantry and devotion of the men who served under it both in peace and war. The preamble of the Naval Discipline Act refers to the Navy ‘whereon under the good providence of God, the wealth, safety and strength of the Kingdom so much depends’. I therefore present this new colour as a symbol of my admiration and of my trust in the men who serve the Fleet on this Station and as a reminder of their traditional responsibilities.”

This is the first signed copy of a speech of an English monarch that we can ever recall seeing.

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