Changing of the Guard – the new head of the Royal Navy has taken charge at a ceremony in the “Great Cabin” on Nelson’s Flagship, H.M.S. VICTORY - leaving the post after a forty three year naval career was First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, after nearly four year in the top post.   Admiral Sir George Zambellas is now the First Sea Lord.   

Nelson’s Flagship, H.M.S. VICTORY is also the Flagship of the present First Sea Lord having previously being the Flagship of the Second Sea Lord.    The standard of the First Sea Lord is of course the Cross of St George.

After discussions with the American Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert and Amiral Bernard Rogel of the French Navy, and the (UK) Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards; Admiral Stanhope made a farewell address to staff at the Royal Navy’s Headquarters on Whale Island (Portsmouth).     The Admiral Stanhope and his wife joined the Fast Patrol Boat SMITER for a farewell sail past of warships of the Portsmouth Flotilla, who manned ship, doffed caps and gave three cheers – the Royal Navy’s time honoured salute.     Admiral Stanhope commanded two submarines during his career, the Patrol Submarine ORPHEUS and the Fleet Submarine SPLENDID, he also held command of the Type 22 Frigate LONDON and the Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS.

The new First Sea Lord Admiral Zambellas joined the Royal Navy in 1980, served as a helicopter pilot, then commanded “Hunt” Class Minecountermeasure Vessel CATTISTOCK, the Type 22 Frigate CHATHAM, the Type 23 Frigate ARGYLL before taking charge of the UK’s amphibious forces at the time of the introduction of the Assault Ships ALBION and BULWARK.   Most recently Admiral Zambellas has held the second most senior post in the Royal Navy, that of Fleet Commander.     Whilst Admiral Zambellasas was in command of the CHATHAM (in 2001), the ship was deployed off Sierra Leone, “Operation Palliser” for which service he received the Distinguished Service Cross.

We wish Sir George well with his new post.