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Please see "Colonel" for other countries which use this rank

Colonel is a rank of the British forces, ranking just below brigadier. They are not usually field commanders, instead typically serving as staff officers in between field commands at battalion and brigade level. The insignia is two diamond shaped pips (properly called stars) and a crown. The crown has varied in the past with different monarchs; the current Queen's reign has used St Edward's Crown.

In the British Army, colonel can also refer to the ceremonial head of a regiment; this is almost always a general officer, often retired, with a close link to the regiment in question. Sometimes the post is held by a member of the Royal Family. This position is often described as colonel of the regiment to distinguish it from the rank of colonel. See this official list.

Colonel-in-chief is another ceremonial title used by the British military.

[edit] See also

• British and U.S. military ranks compared
• British Army enlisted rank insignia
• British Army officer rank insignia

Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British officer ranks
	Student Officer	OF(D)	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9	OF-10
Royal Navy:	O/C	Mid	SLt		Lt	Lt Cdr	Cdr	Capt	Cdre	RAdm	VAdm	Adm	Adm of the Fleet
Royal Marines:	OCdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen
Army:	OCdt		2Lt	Lt	Capt	Maj	Lt Col	Col	Brig	Maj Gen	Lt Gen	Gen	FM
Royal Air Force:	OC / SO		APO / PO	Fg Off	Flt Lt	Sqn Ldr	Wg Cdr	Gp Capt	ACdre	AVM	AM	ACM	MRAF