When does Wikitree consider that the Royal Navy really began?

Question

My instinct says 1660 though the seeds of the RN were sown long before. Can it really be said that the Royal Navy took on the Spanish Armada for instance? In need of guidance.

Answer 1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy#A_standing_Royal_Navy_1500–1707

This suggests that the "Navy Royal" began under Henry VIII.

Comments

The Mary Rose was one of Henry's 'army by the sea' a standing navy .https://maryrose.org/the-history-of-the-mary-rose/ . 

But the Royal Navy itself also distinguishes between the Nayy Royal or English Navy and the Royal Navy https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/history/

Answer 2

The Royal Navy came into being with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 but it depends on whether you want to distinguish between the Royal Navy and the force that was extant in 1660. Wikipedia for example gives 1546 for its foundation but that would refer to the English Navy and on its history of the Royal Navy page gives 1660.

Answer 3

1660, in my humble opinion.  It was much more than a mere name change.  The English Navy, or Navy Royal, was founded under a different Act of Parliament, indeed, a different parliament.