The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Official Royal Opening 8th March 2017

HRH The Princess Royal, Patron, The National Museum of the Royal Navy, and Patron Women’s Royal Naval Service Centenary (WRNS100), will officially open the ‘Pioneers to Professionals: Women and the Royal Navy’ exhibition at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 8th March 2017 and launch of the WRNS100 centenary celebrations.

The exhibition opening will also be attended by current serving personnel, veterans, WRNS100 representatives and the curatorial and exhibition team at the museum. The official opening will take place on the same day as International Women’s Day, a day which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The exhibition in turn celebrates women’s contribution to the naval services over the last 250 years.

Victoria Ingles, curator of the exhibition, said “The establishment of the Women’s Royal Naval Service 100 years ago was an important milestone in the employment of women within the Royal Navy. Their achievements undoubtedly laid the foundations for the integrated naval service that we have today but it is also important to celebrate contribution of earlier female pioneers who lived and worked on naval ships long before this.”

‘Pioneers to Professionals’ champions the early pioneers who fought for equal rights in the Royal Navy and tells the story of how women’s role in the navy has changed. Today there are no restrictions for women.

Cdr Jane Allen comments, “The service treats men and women the same, the Royal Navy will always choose the best person for the job regardless of gender, it is based on ability.”

HRH The Princess Royal held the honorary position of Chief Commandant of the Women’s Royal Naval Service from 1974 until 1993. The formation of the Women’s Royal Naval Service in 1917 was an important milestone for the history of women and the Royal Navy. The service allowed women to work in an official capacity in shore-based roles thus releasing men to work on the ships and the pioneering work of these women paved the way for women in the Royal Navy today. In 1993 the WRNS were integrated into the Royal Navy, since integration The Princess Royal has held the position of Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy.