The Ruler of the Queen's Navee.

[Super Sonic]

Hello. Can anyone tell me what the expression "The Ruler of the Queen's Navee" refers to, please? Thank you.

 

[MikeNewYork]

May I assume that "navee" means "navy"?

 

[Skrej]

It's from a song in the musical HMS Pinafore, and it is actually spelled 'Navee' in the lyrics. Not sure why, though.

The person singing the song is in charge of the entire British Navy. Presumably he's some kind of admiral.

It's basically a 'rags to riches' story.

 

[Rover_KE]

WS Gilbert's comically satirical lyrics can be read here.

The metre of the song places an unnatural emphasis on the second syllable of 'navy' to rhyme with 'me', 'sea' etc.

The spelling 'navee' and 'carefullee' reflect this.