Some pictures of my new carrier

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Dave Page
They are also very rare in that they show H.M. armed. If the King had to go about armed it sent a worrying message to the populace.

Naw, two factors -- first, it's part of the uniform and he's the CinC of an Armed Forces at war... second, showing HM armed tells the British public that he, personally is prepared to fight if necessary (and I'm sure he would have if he wasn't spirited away first).

IMHO, it's a good call and a propaganda coup. I suspect he insisted on it himself...