To feel sorry for the fake admiral

ok. Well let’s agree to disagree. Playing dress up is very different to assuming a role and letting v people believe you are something you’re not, esp in a position of authority.

medals are awarded for valourous acts. They aren’t ribbons or baubles. They’re a physical manifestation of bravery and risk undertaken. Real people serve they are sons & daughters ,siblings and it means a lot. Let’s not use words like ribbons to diminish items of significance that were awarded because they mean something. Medals represent a participation,service and to falsely wear medals is a big deal

@IsItSnowing

Who exactly gives the Windsors the right to dress up and festoon themselves with medals?

There IS a link with the admiral in the stolen valour sense .

The royals use stolen valour too . It’s part of their propaganda

Well people are in fancy dress as them all the time. If they tried to operate on someone then harm would be done. If they falsely arrested someone, then harm would be done. Walking round in a uniform is not harmful; I don’t see that he has caused harm.

Charles served in both the Navy and the RAF. He made commander in the navy and trained as a pilot in the RAF. He has no campaign medals but he does have several medals that only those in service can earn.

There is a difference, but likes of Princess Anne hasn’t fought for the right to wear them or for her dead comrades has she, which is the point of the medals that a lot of posters are making.

I don’t agree it’s not hurting anyone. For context, I don’t wear a poppy, but respect matters. I know two families personally from this part of N Wales who would be very hurt to see their losses of young men (pretty recently) made a mockery of this way.
Whatever the reason it’s not harmless, particularly to the people he was trying to impress, who ironically probably saw through the fake immediately.

I don’t feel sorry for him by the way. I think he must be either unwell or a dickhead, and I’m leaning towards the latter.

It's a throwback to the original role of royalty, which was military. That's why the men are all expected to go into the forces in some way, despite the fact that it's pointless now, a token gesture.

I happen to agree with you, but I am not connected to the armed forces in any way. Oddly, the few people I know who have served don't seem to feel that way about it. The impression I have is that those who have served are staunchly Royalist.

To send message out that it is wrong to impersonate people? You want a host of people playing police men, nurses etc just for kicks? No harm done?

Yeah that’s true, so I suppose I see the reason for an arrest if they think it could be nefarious, but once it’s found that is no threat then I don’t see the point in perusing a charge and court proceedings. What actual harm has been done?

@Hoistupthemainsail* *
No I don’t feel sorry for him. He didn’t deserve to be there or wear those medals.
What exactly have the Royals done to wear the acres of ribbons that they wear!

It is absolutely not a victimless crime. It’s an insult to myself and all those who have served, and particularly an insult to those who we seek to remember on November 11th, those who laid down their lives in service. To attend an event to commemorate those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and seek to make yourself front and centre is abhorrent (note these folk never Walt as a private soldier, it’s always a high rank, or SAS etc. conferring false ‘status’).

It’s great they are caught and made examples of- let it serve as a warning to those who have never served but whose actions indirectly bring the services into disrepute, at a time when the world is so unstable we need our forces more than ever.

no, not clearly MH. Let’s wait on a reliable source . Instead of guessing

The point is, though, that there’s no deception in honorary uniforms and their embellishments.
Its not comparable to this case really.

Well, now you know he is just a faker and know he isn’t a threat you can say it’s fine. Until then you have no idea. You’re only saying that as you know it was egoistical rather than nefarious. Nobody trying to pass as military personnel is assumed harmless until no threat is guaranteed.

Clearly a mental health problem, clearly a lost soul

For me, that's what points to this not being a case of someone having some sort of breakdown or delusional episode. If he genuinely believed he was entitled to that uniform in some sort of a delusional state, he would have been seen wearing it in his home town.

He seems to be fully aware of what he's doing, because he's not risking being recognised at local events. Someone in a genuine state of delusion wouldn't think like that.

Doesn't mean there aren't MH concerns connected to his behaviour, but it does show a level of cognitive awareness. This isn't some harmless old man living in a war film in his head. This is planned.

In this case, I don’t. I know it could depending on the actions of a person impersonating the military. Like playing dress up as a doctor vs actually fraudulently trying to carry out duties of a doctor. But marching around in fancy dress makes him look a wanker. It’s offensive, yes. But criminal and harmful? I don’t think so.

I agree with you. But then I'm not a royalist in any way so I don't get it at all but many people do seem to like being associated with them in this way.
However, it's completely different to the man who's been charged. Like it or not, the royals are given the right to wear those uniforms.

Yeah I do dislike it, and more and more people are too.
She's literally done fuck all to deserve it- never put her life on the line by serving in the armed forces. All she's done is turn up to taxpayer funded jollies and paraded around. It's especially insulting to the young service people many of whom live in shit accommodation. Like Edward in his fancy dress, a total joke.

Custody Sargent can refer to psychiatric liaison if there appear to be mental health issues refer to Liaison and Diversion (L&D) service

It is not normal behaviour and could spiral,he needs medical intervention,he really does.

For info.it seems the relevant legislation is the Uniforms Act of 1894 (!!!)

(1)It shall not be lawful for any person not serving in Her Majesty’s Military Forces to wear without Her Majesty’s permission the uniform of any of those forces, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniform: Provided that this enactment shall not prevent . . . . . . any persons from wearing any uniform or dress in the course of a stage play performed in a place duly licensed or authorised for the public performance of stage plays, or in the course of a music hall or circus performance, or in the course of any bona fide military representation...