This is the group directly responsible for the overall direction of the Royal Navy. The board is formed of both civilian and military members. The board has eleven sitting members, five civilian and six military.

• Civilian
o Secretary of State for Defence
o Minister of State for the Armed Forces
o Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support
o Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
o Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of the Admiralty Board
• Royal Navy
o First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
o Commander-in-Chief Fleet
o Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command
o Naval Member for Logistics
o Controller of the Navy
o Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff

They meet normally two or three times a year to set the general direction of the Royal Navy. The board was established when the Board of Admiralty was abolished and the three services were brought under control of the Defence Ministry. This took place in 1964. The sitting king or queen is still the overall head of the Royal Navy. They are known as the Lord High Admiral.