HMS George VI, arriving

The Royal Navy is a stickler for recycling historic names.

For instance, there have been five Ark Royals since 1587, four Argonaughts since 1782, four Bellerophons since 1786, as well as 10 Medusas, 11 Vanguards, and no less than 13 Revenges. Then, there are vessels named after monarchs, their offices and their important offspring such as the five HMS Black Prince(s) since 1650, a half-dozen HMS Prince of Wales since 1765, and three HMS Queen Elizabeth(s.)

New to the Royal Navy’s list will be the first HMS King George VI.

Announced on 3 May, the name will be given to the fourth of the planned Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarine.

“Notwithstanding the long tradition of naming Royal Navy capital ships after our country’s monarchs, to-date no previous warship has been named King George VI; it was not appropriate to do so during His reign as…