Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) is the English designation of any Canadian warship. It derives from "Her Majesty's Ship" (HMS) used in the United Kingdom. The British monarch is also equally and separately the Canadian head of state. Should the queen be replaced by a king, the designation also changes to "His" rather than "Her" Majesty. Ships bearing this designation are the responsibility of the Canadian Forces Maritime Command.
Navire canadien de Sa Majesté (NCSM) is the equally official French version of the title. Unlike the English version, the phrase remains unchanged if the monarch is male.
HMCS Rainbow , which the Canadian Navy purchased from the Royal Navy in 1910, was the first ship to include this designation in her name.
See also: List of ships of the Canadian Navy, Ship prefix
