To wonder why Princess Anne wears military uniform - when she has never served

[Bankcockbabe]

I love the Royals, and feel very sorry for their current awful situation, so is not intended as a bash against Princess Anne or any of them

but - I do not understand why Princess Anne wears Military Uniform in the procession, never having served in the military - and Prince Harry was not able to , even though he has done two tours

I get Princess Anne has honorary titles, but 'honorary' titles but claiming this, IMO, doesn't really do justice to the men & women who have actually served - It feels like it is making a mockery if someone who has not done the same, can put the Uniform on

Two different things - I talked about working days, but you are talking about engagements.

An 'engagement' could be a telephone call etc - not an entire day. She may do 15 engagements in one day, dependant on what that actually entails

The queen can trace back her ancestry to William the conqueror. All the royal families in Europe are related because they all married into each other for power and influence.

though Danny Dyer is also directly descended from William the conqueror, so it’s not that rare!

Well tbf a hell of a lot of people didn't work that much in 2020, with lockdown and furlough. So I don't think you can be surprised the number of engagements were lower.

^^ This, with bells on. It always amuses me when posters ask things on Mumsnet, because they can’t be bothered researching the topic themselves, and expect others to give them the answers!
Like NiqueNique, says why should others do the work for them? I also research things that interest me. In today’s World it can be as simple as googling a topic, to find the relevant websites, that will give them the answers. It’s not difficult!

Just because you've been given a very good answer does not make it 'great swerve', it would take far too much space to clarify the links with the Royal Family, of which the Regiments are very proud.

I think it's great that Anne wears military uniform. It's a positive role model for our daughters. We already have more than enough women showcasing the art of looking pretty.

I would imagine that the 145 days of work = public appearances. I bet there were many other days preparing behind the scenes, having briefings and coming up to speed on wherever she was visiting.

And she is 72 years old too.

Princess Anne was the CinC of the regiment i was in. She was highly sought after as a guest at all our locations, and we all had a good time when she visited, no matter the batshittery that went on getting it ready. (seriously, some of the preparations were bizarre.)

She always made sure that the schedule involved time with the ranks, as well as the officers and SNCOs - i remember hearing her laughing like a hyena at some dirty jokes on a visit i organised. Very good for all those around her.
She definitely deserves to wear a uniform.

No it is not. But this is the Royal family you are talking about. I doubt very much that any of them have ever worked hard in their lives.

OP, if you're going to be deliberately obtuse ("I wonder why...", etc.) instead of just expressing an opinion, you can't go around accusing people of swerving when they don't feel the need to be obliging in return.

You don't seem to have evidence that the military have a problem with Anne's rank/uniform, but they're the only people with a stake in this debate.

Shock horror, could you be using a group of people you have no connection with just to have a jab?

I think a lot of people have wondered this same thing OP over the last few days. It doesn't really bother me tbh but I cant get my head around the wearing of military uniform either if someone has never served.

Why only Princess Anne? Is it not ridiculous for Prince Edward and Prince William to wear theirs too as they are not serving military personnel either?

On another note, Anne is often honoured being the most hard working member of the RF - so just to boil that down:-
In 2020 she apparently did a 'staggering' 145 days of work
Is that really 'staggering' to work for less than half of the year?

Tbh in that year - out of the 365 and then deducting the weekends etc, and all the rest of the shenanegins that went on - I probably did fewer actual days at work. And i wasn't 70

She is good - and she has good staff. I worked on a visit to our regiment in the late 80s. On the last day as she was getting into the plane, prompted by my boss - I'd got her a telegraph so she could check the racing results (great boss, his idea, made me do it as though i'd thought of it, as i'd worked very hard on the visit with no acknowledgement and he thought i should have some contact)

As i gave it to her, she thanked me and said I'd probably be relieved she was gone at last, go for a booze up with the visit team then sleep for a week. Told me she was thankful for the work i and the team had put in and that she appreciated it.

about 5 years later she visited a regiment i was attached to, and i was in the background doing something unrelated as she walked through our office. And she actually came over and asked if i could arrange the racing results again. Stunned.

So during COVID.
when many of her engagements were cancelled because of lockdown.
many people weren’t working during lockdown.

Veterans can wear military uniforms at special events, remembrance Sunday, ceremonies, that sort of thing. So I don't know why Harry cannot wear a uniform.

@Octomore Thank you for that - I’ve never seen it so clearly laid out before. Fascinating.

Is anyone here expecting to be able to retire by their 70s? I'm quite close to the old retirement age but they keep moving it so I've given up hoping.

It's not that unusual for ordinary people to work at 72 as Anne is or nearly 74 as Charles and my brother is.

When the time comes I hope I get a nice little job asking people how long they've been waiting and laughing "like a hyena" at dirty jokes as one poster gushed.

I'd be good at it. Where do I apply?

I'm not sure that's correct TBH.

For most retired veterans it's strictly headdress and medals only at such events AFAIK.

I get Princess Anne has honorary titles, but 'honorary' titles but claiming this, IMO, doesn't really do justice to the men & women who have actually served - It feels like it is making a mockery if someone who has not done the same, can put the Uniform on

Have you served? If not, why do you think that you have the right to get offended on behalf of others?

She's not wearing any gallantry or campaign medals she's got no right to. Those are what really get earned, and really show that you've served.

This

I worked for more days than Anne. But then I am lower paid unlike some of the people on MN who seem to not work many hours at all.
But I am fine with Anne working that amount of days at her age, Was is not okay is all the younger royals doing far less. Many do the absolute minimum they can get away with. That is an interesting approach for the future of the monarchy.

Britain doesn't have "Green Berets"

Ok, I have lost my hearing in my left ear, as it needs microsuctioning; but I am sure people could get the gist of it - that he had served in the forces!

Some bits of military protocol get overlooked - several royals have worn beards in army uniforms, almost anyone else (bar Pioneer Sergeants) wouldn't be permitted.

I'm sure that the military are consulted, there is always a senior officer on secondment to the palace after all. At the end of the day though, the King is the ultimate head of the armed forces so what he says goes

You're thinking about politicians.

I've met Princess Anne, and was struck that she really seemed to take a genuine interest. Those who met the Queen have said similar. They definitely knew far more than someone who'd been quickly briefed beforehand. Asked relevant questions etc.