Honourary Military Appointments

Queen Alexander's Royal Army Nursing Corps

The Countess of Wessex succeeded Princess Margaret as royal colonel of one of the oldest regiments in the army, Queen Alexander's Royal Army Nursing Corps.  

The Queen Alexander's Royal Army Nursing Corps can trace its origins to the Crimean War (1854-1855), where a group of British volunteer nurses including Florence Nightingale provided medical assistance to the British army.    Florence Nightingale's heroism was especially noted by Queen Alexander and it showed their services were vital and showed the need for nurses in the army and opened up the medical profession for women all over the world.  In 1866 civilian nurses were appointed to serve in the military nurses and was set up as a permanent service in 1881.  In 1902 the unit was specially named after Queen Alexander who was instrumental in its establishment as Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service.

Over the years a nursing service has became an important part of any army.  There is no doubting the vital role they have played throughout history in the field hospitals, the ambulance trains, hospital ships, mobile surgical teams, as well as the refugee camps.

Sophie's involvement

Royal involvement in the QARANC became almost immediately. Her Majesty Queen Mary, as President of QAIMNS, became Colonel-in-Chief of QARANC, until her death in 1953, when she was succeeded by Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret. In July 2003 HRH The Countess of Wessex was appointed as the third Colonel-in-Chief and she also become Patron of the Association.