What’s in a name? Quite a lot, it seems especially when it comes to Royal Navy submarines. A decision to rename the future HMS Agincourt as HMS Achilles has sparked a political firestorm, with critics branding the move as “woke nonsense” and “pathetic.” And, as it turns out, King Charles himself played a role in the change.
The renaming, announced this week, reportedly stemmed from concerns within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that HMS Agincourt named after England’s famous victory over France in 1415 might not sit well with one of the UK’s closest allies. Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and ex Tory Defence Minister Sir Gavin Williamson were quick to condemn the move, claiming it was an unnecessary concession to political correctness.
What they may not have known, however, is that King Charles was involved in the decision.
Royal Influence on a Controversial Change
Sources suggest that discussions about renaming the submarine began over a year ago while Shapps was still in office and that the King himself was keen to find an alternative name.
The tradition of naming Royal Navy ships and submarines follows a set process: the Royal Navy’s Ships’ Names and Badging Committee puts forward suggestions, and the reigning monarch grants final approval. Under Queen Elizabeth II, HMS Agincourt had been the chosen name, but King Charles reportedly sought a different path, eventually approving HMS Achilles instead.
While Buckingham Palace and the MoD have declined to comment on the King’s direct involvement, defence insiders indicate that he was instrumental in the switch.
A Name Steeped in History
So why HMS Achilles? According to the Royal Navy, the new name carries significant historical weight. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a conflict in which a previous HMS Achilles earned battle honours. The decision, they argue, was not about erasing history but about selecting a name with broader military resonance.
The original HMS Agincourt name was first announced in 2018 by Sir Gavin Williamson and would have been the sixth vessel to carry the title. The Battle of Agincourt remains one of England’s most celebrated victories, where Henry V’s army, against the odds, defeated the French in one of the Hundred Years’ War’s defining moments. But with modern-day Franco-British relations in mind, some within the MoD felt reviving the name could be unnecessarily provocative.
Backlash from Critics
Not everyone is convinced by the change. Sir Gavin Williamson slammed it as “woke” and “pathetic,” while Shapps went even further, calling it “sacrilege” and blaming “Labour’s woke nonsense” for what he sees as an unnecessary revision of naval tradition.
Chris Parry, a former NATO commander, echoed their concerns, telling Times Radio that the renaming was a case of “craven political correctness and ideology gone mad.”
A Name Fit for a King?
While the debate rages on, HMS Achilles is now set in stone as the name for the submarine, currently under construction in Barrow, Cumbria. Whether this decision will be remembered as a diplomatic masterstroke or an example of political overcorrection remains to be seen.
For now, though, one thing is certain: this is one submarine whose name is making waves long before it ever touches the sea.
