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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Prince Edward should NOT wear military uniform?

68 replies

Nancy66 · 09/10/2009 13:45

I've just been watching the news footage of the memorial service at St Paul's to honour the fallen in Iraq - and he's there in full miltiary uniform complete with (what looked like) medals!!

He wimped out of the Marines after only four months - isn't it a huge insult to real soldiers that he wears military uniform?

I don't, for a minute, think that the other royals did anything vaguely useful during their military service - but at least they completed the full training.

OP posts:
BettyTurnip · 09/10/2009 13:47

The sooner we become a Republic the better (predictable I know but true!).

bronze · 09/10/2009 13:47

I agree re Edward but Andrew flew a sea king on missions during the Falklands. The Navy wanted to shunt him into a desk job but he and the Queen said no

IveNowGotCleanCarpets · 09/10/2009 13:54

I understand where you are coming from however he wears it in his role as Colonel In Chief of a Regiment (as does the Princess Royal who has never served).
"In the British and other Commonwealth armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its (usually royal) patron. This position is distinct from that of Colonel of the Regiment. They do not have an operational role. They are however kept informed of all important activities of the regiment, and pay occasional visits to its operational units. Their chief purpose is to maintain a direct link between the regiment and the Royal Family."

seeyounexttuesday · 09/10/2009 13:56

Makes me cringe every time i see him in uniform, adfter 5 mins in the marines.

He must know we all know!

bronze · 09/10/2009 13:58

I guess the easiest thing would be to as k the Marines if they're bothered

BettyTurnip · 09/10/2009 13:58

So where do his medals come from?

Original poster
Nancy66 · 09/10/2009 13:59

services to tea making...

OP posts:
IveNowGotCleanCarpets · 09/10/2009 14:03

He will be wearing some of these:
The Earl of Wessex is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG), and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).

The Royal Victorian Order was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1896 as a reward for personal service to the Sovereign. There are five classes: Member (MVO), Lieutenant (LVO), Commander (CVO), Knight or Dame Commander (KCVO), Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO).

The Earl of Wessex was appointed a CVO in 1989 and elevated to KCVO in 2003. His Royal Highness was appointed a KG in 2006.

His Royal Highness holds the Silver Jubilee (1977) and Golden Jubilee (2002) medals, and the New Zealand Commemorative Medal, struck in 1990 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi and the formation of modern New Zealand.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 09/10/2009 14:21

Spot on Betty Turnip.

lalin · 09/10/2009 15:06

What on earth did he look like in his toy medals. What do real soldiers feel like when the see this lightweight adorned in all that brass. Why did he have to leave the marines, does anyone know?

Original poster
Nancy66 · 09/10/2009 15:11

he left because the training was too tough.

OP posts:
charis · 09/10/2009 15:38

He is trapped by convention rather - damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Poor bloke didn't ask to be born. I wouldn't survive marine training either. Especially after a life of luxury.

bring on the republic.

basilnboo · 09/10/2009 16:10

IveNowGotCleanCarpet ? Thank goodness that someone bothered to research before just bashing away, a change so refreshing I have come out of lurkdome to say thank you.

Not suggesting I support royals in Uniform but its nice when people research first.

mayorquimby · 09/10/2009 16:17

man associated with the armed forces wears military uniform appropriate for occassion SHOCKER!!!!

MaggieBehave · 09/10/2009 16:21

yeah that's a bit weird. what were the medals for? shiniest shoes?

TsarChasm · 09/10/2009 16:30

'He must know we all know' Rofl

He's never been much good at anything really has he? He should be made to wear his It's A Royal Knockout outfit to anything formal.

(No Ed, we haven't forgotten that either.)

alwayslookingforanswers · 09/10/2009 16:31

he Earl of Wessex is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG), and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).

The Royal Victorian Order was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1896 as a reward for personal service to the Sovereign. There are five classes: Member (MVO), Lieutenant (LVO), Commander (CVO), Knight or Dame Commander (KCVO), Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO).

The Earl of Wessex was appointed a CVO in 1989 and elevated to KCVO in 2003. His Royal Highness was appointed a KG in 2006.

His Royal Highness holds the Silver Jubilee (1977) and Golden Jubilee (2002) medals, and the New Zealand Commemorative Medal, struck in 1990 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi and the formation of modern New Zealand.

sayithowitis · 09/10/2009 16:33

Can't say I am a fan of Edward, or indeed many of the current crop of royals, however, i do think it took a lot ofcourage to admit that he made a mistake in joining the Marines and by leaving. It would have been so much easier for him to continue with the training and then moved to a cushy 'desk job' afterwards. I don't think , given his family backgrounds, that he was ever going to be kicked out. And at least he tried. On the other hand, what on earth does The Princess Royal think she looks like@ As far as I know, she has never seen any kind of military service at all, unless you count brownies. I find it more insulting that she gets all togged up in her finery.

MaggieBehave · 09/10/2009 16:33

huh?

what does that mean? he gets medals for showing up?

MaggieBehave · 09/10/2009 16:33

yes sayithowitis, when he dropped out after 4 months I thought fair play for admitting it was too much for him. that was brave.

alwayslookingforanswers · 09/10/2009 16:37

it means that some of his medals are like this one (one of the ones he holds)

MaggieBehave · 09/10/2009 17:26

is it one of your jobs to polish his medals Sophie?

QueensShiling · 09/10/2009 18:29

OK, I'm going to poke my head above the parapet and am prepared to be shot down. I'm an aging member of the Armed Forces (was Regular...no pun......now TA), I hold the Queen's Commission and as such am "loyal" to the crown. At least Prince E tried the Marines and admitted failure. I think you'll find most military types respect that. We also respect all members of the royal family that turn out to support events/represent the Queen etc, we're into dressing up and wearing the odd medal so we don't mind minor royals joining in . By the way I'm a Mum (not a Dad incase you'd stereotyped me)

lalin · 09/10/2009 18:40

Thanks ivenowgotcleancarpet. That was interesting as I had no idea what they were all for. Who decided and who awarded him his medals? Surely not his Mummy

MaggieBehave · 09/10/2009 20:12

Queenshiling, I hear that. That is probably the bravest thing he's ever done, admitting that the training was too tough - knowing that the media would be gunning for him ...

A medal to commemorate 25 yrs of the queen's reign isn't really a medal though, it's an anniversary badge.

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