The Pembroke originated as a development of an idea sponsored by Lord Brabazon towards the end of World War II, when he chaired a committee whose brief was to assess the civil aviation requirements after the end of hostilities, and recommended several specifications for civil aircraft required to keep Britain ahead for both home and export sales. A twin-engined transport emerged from Percival called the Merganser in 1947. This was refined and in 1950 the Prince was born, being immediate-ly snapped up by companies as there was nothing similar on the market at the time. The Royal Navy were quick to order the type as a communications aircraft and could see the potential for it as a navigation trainer. With an extended nose for radar and other equipment, Percival were quick to assess that as being suitable. Named the Sea Prince, the Royal Navy ordered three of the early short-nosed variant as the Sea Prince C1 for communications, forty-one of the T.1 version built for navigation and anti-submarine training, and four C.2s as a transport version of the Sea Prince T1.
