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The royal family
Original poster

Harry should be allowed to wear military uniform

204 replies

AliceMcK · 13/09/2022 23:08

Regardless of what anyone thinks of him or him no longer being a senior working Royal he should be fully entitled to wear his military uniform. He fought on the front line, he’d would have stayed in the army if the press hadn’t put him and other soldiers at risk, he has done so much for veterans, far more than anyone else in the royal family. His military uniform was earned not bestowed on him as an honorary title, yet he’s not allowed to wear it to his grandmothers funeral.

OP posts:
JacquelineCarlyle · 14/09/2022 10:21

GoingOnce · 14/09/2022 10:04

He is no more entitled to wear full military dress than any ex-army veteran. They can wear their medals, of course, and he can too. He doesn’t have a military role anymore. The uniform is not kept as a memento of your time in the armed forces.

I've never thought about the uniform after leaving - do you give it back when you leave or what happens to it? Is it given to someone else who would fit into it?

Novella4 · 14/09/2022 10:23

@thefoggiest

There is no confusion

Andrew is wearing his uniform
Harry isn't

People are angry

bigknickersbigknockers · 14/09/2022 10:26

Not a fan of Harry and Meghan after all their mud slingin but even I cant fathom why he cant wear uniform but Andrew can.

CaptainBarbosa · 14/09/2022 10:28

JacquelineCarlyle · 14/09/2022 10:21

I've never thought about the uniform after leaving - do you give it back when you leave or what happens to it? Is it given to someone else who would fit into it?

Show quote history

It's returned to the stores. That's why you have kit insurance, incase you happen to loose something along the way. 🤣

Everything is handed back except boots and shoes and berets (these are moulded to your head shape so worthless to others)

So all DPM's all number 2's all your kit.

You leave with medals, any civilian clothing and any footwear. (nobody wants your old boots)

The QM will then store them and they can be cleaned and given to others and tailored to them.

thefoggiest · 14/09/2022 10:30

@Novella4
Unlike Harry, he has actually had a long military career.

Andrew still retains his title of Vice Admiral.

Therefore, he is still an active member of the military and will wear uniform.

Novella4 · 14/09/2022 10:30

Jesus

Novella4 · 14/09/2022 10:31

Your username is apt I'll give you that

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 10:36

@CaptainBarbosa you have a good memory!

Pengwinn · 14/09/2022 10:48

Thankfully you don't have to hand the socks back. I haven't bought a pair of socks since I was 18 and I've been a civvy now for several years 🤣 but yes as has been said you don't 'own' your uniform (albeit over the years more and more was expected to come out of your own pocket), and aside from a few bits of kit everything else goes back. In line with military stores they probably wouldn't notice if every item was or not, but there are rightly tight rules around handling of stuff when you leave.

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 10:55

thefoggiest · 14/09/2022 10:30

@Novella4
Unlike Harry, he has actually had a long military career.

Andrew still retains his title of Vice Admiral.

Therefore, he is still an active member of the military and will wear uniform.

Andrew retired at the rank of Commander, I think. (I could be wrong.)

Every rank after his retirement was either honorary or a 'promotion' gift from the Queen: Honorary [Navy] Captain, Rear Admiral (for his 50th birthday), Vice Admiral (for his 55th birthday). Andrew was expecting to be made a full Admiral on his 60th birthday but that didn't happen because of the widespread disgust over his nonce mates, and a bit of panic at the top about it particularly following that interview.

This is why it's all a bit of a mess, and it's Charles's mess now. Andrew won't do anything with dignity voluntarily, I don't think, to help out his older brother, or smooth the optics, or assist the monarchy.

ChicCroissant · 14/09/2022 11:09

At the rank Harry was when he left the army, he was never entitled to wear his uniform - he only did because of his honorary rank/positions, they are gone which means no uniform. He knows that.

Andrew, on the other hand, retired from the Navy at a rank which does entitle him to wear his uniform regardless of the (same) loss of honorary rank/position.

I get why people are frothing over this because it doesn't look good, but the regulations are clear. Harry making a statement about it is a really ill-advised PR move IMO.

FinallyHere · 14/09/2022 12:10

Andrew is the late Queen's son. Harry is a Grandson.

Whatever else you might think, the generational distinction is meaningless comparing active military service and millions of pounds out of court settlement.

2000lightyearsaway123 · 14/09/2022 12:17

My understanding is that veterans of the armed forces can wear their headdress and medals if they wish as appropriate but not usually full uniform once they are no longer active. I think this is the category Prince Harry falls into.

I don't think Prince Andrew should be allowed to wear it in any scenario personally.

stuntbubbles · 14/09/2022 12:27

Maybe he can wear his Nazi uniform.

CaptainBarbosa · 14/09/2022 12:50

stuntbubbles · 14/09/2022 12:27

Maybe he can wear his Nazi uniform.

I'm sorry but that did make me chuckle 🤣🤣

deedledeedledum · 14/09/2022 13:00

Why is Edward allowed to wear anything military?

MaulPerton · 14/09/2022 13:00

CaptainBarbosa · 14/09/2022 12:50

I'm sorry but that did make me chuckle 🤣🤣

Show quote history

We all did - and, is MN being tongue-in-cheek with its advert for the Lion King running alongside today's threads?

SpinCityBlues · 14/09/2022 13:06

deedledeedledum · 14/09/2022 13:00

Why is Edward allowed to wear anything military?

He's got an honorary rank.

Viviennemary · 14/09/2022 13:13

I support the decision thst has been made re Harry and military uniforms.

00100001 · 14/09/2022 14:28

Told you Andrew wouldn't be in Military uniform either...

mrsmarmalade12 · 14/09/2022 14:29

Anyone else think the horses look a bit unsteady and riled up? It's making me anxious

Grandeur · 14/09/2022 14:31

mrsmarmalade12 · 14/09/2022 14:29

Anyone else think the horses look a bit unsteady and riled up? It's making me anxious

I was thinking that. Poor things.

momtoboys · 14/09/2022 14:32

I do not agree. He chose to give up the Royal life and all that came with it. He doesn't get to pick and choose.

Jellykat · 14/09/2022 14:32

Apologies for lowering the tone, but blimey William looks handsome..
Poor Anne though, she looks completely wiped out, as to be expected..

LaBellina · 14/09/2022 14:45

I think none of this would have been an issue had Andrew not been allowed to wear his uniform. My first thought when I read that was how tone deaf it is to allow that.