GB News host Martin Daubney has launched a scathing attack on the decision to rename HMS Agincourt, claiming the move undermines “British heritage”.
Martin expressed his frustration at the submarine’s new designation as HMS Achilles, questioning why a “great” name needed to be changed at all.
King Charles personally intervened to rename the £1.5billion Royal Navy submarine, it has been reported.
The monarch ordered the change from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles over concerns the original name might upset the French
Martin Daubney hit out at the ‘woke’ decision by King Charles to rename a historic British submarine
PA / GB News
“Achilles is a name that’s defined by a weakness that was exploited, that’s the point. Achilles was slain because of his only weakness, Agincourt was a plucky display of a minority force slaying a bigger force. Clearly a superior name,” Martin told GB News viewers.
He particularly criticised King Charles’s involvement in the name change, suggesting it was inappropriate for the monarch to be concerned about French sensitivities.
“Are they really so fragile that they’re offended by hundreds of year old battles? And more to the point, does our King think it’s worthy of his time to rename vessels because it might twist the nose of Emmanuel Macron?” he questioned.
The presenter argued that challenging French sensibilities was “the job of British people”.
The Royal Navy announced the change of name from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles
Ministry of Defence
“I think we should rename Agincourt something even more that offends the French,” he added.
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Historian Tony McMahon has added his voice to the criticism, highlighting the deep historical significance of the Battle of Agincourt to British heritage.
Speaking to GB News, McMahon said: “The Battle of Agincourt was back in 1415, but the French have got long memories, you see. And basically an English army, a plucky English army defeated a much larger French army.”
He noted the battle’s cultural impact, referencing its portrayal in cinema by both Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh.
McMahon expressed bewilderment at the King’s concerns about French sensitivities, particularly given Queen Elizabeth’s previous approval of the name. “It is insane, really, because Agincourt is a part of our history,” he stated.
McMahon explained that the original name marked ‘a part of our history’
GB News
The historian also questioned the wisdom of choosing Achilles as the replacement name.
“The weird thing is he’s changed it to Achilles, and if you know anything about Greek mythology, Achilles, who was a Greek warrior, had a weakness and that was his heel,” McMahon pointed out.
He added: “I’d rather be in a submarine called Agincourt, which is going to steam ahead because it’s named after a great battle, then after some great warrior got shot in the ankle.”
McMahon concluded by contrasting Charles’s approach with his ancestor: “Charles seems to be hypersensitive to this in a way that his ancestor Henry certainly wasn’t.”