Royals and the Military

[Am I Bothered]

If anyone has more pictures of royals in uniform please post them.

 

[The Watcher]

Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands is:

- [SIZE=-1]Commodore[/SIZE] in the Royal Netherlands Navy Reserve
- Brigade-General of the Royal Netherlands Army Reserve
- Commodore of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Reserve
- Brigade-General of the Royal Marechaussee Reserve

 

[Warren]

If anyone has more pictures of royals in uniform please post them.

And please ensure the pics are posted via a hosting site such as Photobucket, ImageShack etc, and not attached directly to the Forums.

thanks,
the TRF Team

 

[Von Schlesian]

Please forgive me asking but do they not have 2nd Lieutenants anymore (1 pip) or do they now graduate as a full Lieutenant (2 pips) ? Just curious.

Scott

HI Scott. 'They' (The British/commonwealth Armies) certainly have Second Lieutenants. The rank is normally held by for between 1-2 years depending on the Corps/Regimental posting of the officer concerned.

All General Service Officers (commissiones officers not already possessing a civilian qualification such as Doctor/Teacher/Priest/Psychologist etc), enter the Army as second lieutenants. In Australia, the system is slightly different with the other institution attached to the officer training establishment, the Royal Military College - Duntroon, but as for RMC - Sandhurst, all of it's GSO graduates, are Second Lieutenants

 

[Scott]

HI Scott. 'They' (The British/commonwealth Armies) certainly have Second Lieutenants. The rank is normally held by for between 1-2 years depending on the Corps/Regimental posting of the officer concerned.

All General Service Officers (commissiones officers not already possessing a civilian qualification such as Doctor/Teacher/Priest/Psychologist etc), enter the Army as second lieutenants. In Australia, the system is slightly different with the other institution attached to the officer training establishment, the Royal Military College - Duntroon, but as for RMC - Sandhurst, all of it's GSO graduates, are Second Lieutenants

Thank you for your response. So Prince William will be a 2nd Lieutenant then, not a Lieutenant for the first two years.?

I also live in Australia but was born and bred in the UK. I served in the British Army for 6 years prior to my marriage (in my youth.) Way back then (1960s) officers were always 2nd Lts for a while, even those who were commissioned from the ranks (eg Warrent Officers to Officers).
Anway thanks for that info.

Scott

 

[The O.C. Fanatic]

I don't know if it matters anymore but Grand Duchess Tatiana of Russia was a honorary colonel along with her sister Grand Duchess Olga.

 

[Von Schlesian]

Thank you for your response. So Prince William will be a 2nd Lieutenant then, not a Lieutenant for the first two years.?Scott

It certainly varies, but essentially yes. You're welcome for the response Scott, I apologise (given your service background), if the response seemed condescending.

 

[kwanfan]

I find it interesting that so many of the female middle eastern royals hold military ranks, while very few European royals women seem to hold military ranks.

 

[Scott]

It certainly varies, but essentially yes. You're welcome for the response Scott, I apologise (given your service background), if the response seemed condescending.

Not at all The information you provided was most helpful. Things have changed a great deal since I served in the Army in the 60"s

Regards
Scott

 

[crisiñaki]

Princess Astrid's rank on the Belgian Military is Colonel in the medical unit (according to http://www.monarchie.be/en/family/astrid/cv.html)
Here are some pictures of her in uniform




(cool picture of the siblings )

Source: Corbis

 

[Von Schlesian]

Her Royal Highness is a Commandant (which is equivalent to a Commander in the Royal Navy). This rank is 1 below a naval Captain (which is equivalent to an Army Colonel).

 

[crisiñaki]

I don't know if this have been posted here but it is a picture of the Princess Royal in uniform with her brothers and family at Queen Mum's funeral:



Source: Rex Features

 

[Hereditary Mapmaker]

Service vs. Honorary

Hi, folks. Just curious about a couple of things within this thread. Which royals made a career in the military? We know about Prince Andrew in Great Britian and the Jordanians. But are there others who actually perform a job in the military rather than "royal" duties?

Also, I know that many of the female titles have been honorary. Is this considered the same as being a "patron" of a particular regiment or division?

Lastly, has anyone heard of any female royal serving in the military during actual combat?

Thanks,

Mapper

 

[Hereditary Mapmaker]

Help! Can someone please identify the gentleman in the third row, second from the left, in this photo? He is the one with the red band on his hat.

Thanks,

Mapper

 

[Von Schlesian]

Help! Can someone please identify the gentleman in the third row, second from the left, in this photo? He is the one with the red band on his hat.

Thanks,

Mapper

THe Gentelman you refer to, is none other than His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO.

HRH THe Duke of Kent is one member of the House of Windsor who has served as a Regular Army Officer, also having taken part in various UN operations, as has his cousin, HRH Prince Michael of Kent. They are two recent examples.

 

[Von Schlesian]

Lastly, has anyone heard of any female royal serving in the military during actual combat?

Certainly not in the House of Windsor, not combat anyway.

 

[Hereditary Mapmaker]

Thanks, Von Schlesian!

 

[Von Schlesian]

You're more than welcome Mapper.
Also you asked about patronage, well that doesn't apply to military units (corps, regiments etc), as there are existing military positions for such a role. The position of Colonel-In-Chief, Captain-General (in the case of the Royal artillery), Honourary Commodore/Air Commodore etc for ships and wings (Air Force units) etc all exists so that the holder of such appointments are effectively patrons as well.
The practice of patronage is associated for more with non-military institutions and organisations (Red Cross, Schools, Round-Square).

 

[crisiñaki]

Queen Margrethe II:



She served at the Danish Women's Airforce Reserve

Edited by Admin: copyright source - Polfoto

Originally posted by Mandy at the Queen Margrethe II Pictorial thread

 

[Von Schlesian]

Many female Royals have served in similar capacities within armed forces, however have not been exposed to direct combat roles.

 

[crisiñaki]

Why were Pavlos & Nikolaos wearing uniforms at Joachim's wedding? Did any of them actually have military instruction?




Source: IBL

 

[Von Schlesian]

The manner by which they attain a commission (and they are wearing commissioned rank) is immaterial. Some members of Royal families choose to demonstrate the skill required to earn the commission through military instruction, others are happy to wear Honorary Rank.
In the case of both Princes, they are Lieutenants (one a Second Lieutenant), in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, a Royal Armoured Corps Regiment of the British Army. They have both earned a commission from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

 

[crisiñaki]

The manner by which they attain a commission (and they are wearing commissioned rank) is immaterial. Some members of Royal families choose to demonstrate the skill required to earn the commission through military instruction, others are happy to wear Honorary Rank.

In the case of both Princes, they are Lieutenants (one a Second Lieutenant), in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, a Royal Armoured Corps Regiment of the British Army. They have both earned a commission from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Thanks for your info Von Schlesian, but I have another question:

Are those uniforms danish or british?, because they look a lot like the ones that Frederik and Joachim wear and both Pavlos and Nikolaos are wearing the danish blue sash

And besides, I don't remember seeing either one with an uniform again not even in Frederik's wedding

 

[Von Schlesian]

Thanks for your info Von Schlesian, but I have another question:

Are those uniforms danish or british?, because they look a lot like the ones that Frederik and Joachim wear and both Pavlos and Nikolaos are wearing the danish blue sash

And besides, I don't remember seeing either one with an uniform again not even in Frederik's wedding

You're welcome Crisinaki.
The uniforms they are wearing are not in the Danish Order of Battle. (That is a term which refers to corps seniority within armies of the world). I'm quite accustomed to identifying Military uniforms (particularly, British), and have quite a background in Military protocol (it being one of my specialist subjects). The uniforms being worn by the Princes, are undoubtedly British. The 'Danish Blue Sash' I'm afraid, is not quite accurate. (As you were referring to the Sash of the Order of the Elephant), the sash and breast star of the Order, are certainly not the Order of the Elephant, as the Sash of the Order is always suspended ober the left shoulder (like the Orders of the Garter and Thistle in the United Kingdom).

They are both wearing the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Redeemer (which could quite easily be confused with the Order of the Elephant).
I hope I've been able to clear that up for you. (I admit, it's quite tricky, Princes of Greece and Denmark, wearing the only Order in a British Military uniform which would be confused with that of another country)

 

[crisiñaki]

You're welcome Crisinaki.
The uniforms they are wearing are not in the Danish Order of Battle. (That is a term which refers to corps seniority within armies of the world). I'm quite accustomed to identifying Military uniforms (particularly, British), and have quite a background in Military protocol (it being one of my specialist subjects). The uniforms being worn by the Princes, are undoubtedly British. The 'Danish Blue Sash' I'm afraid, is not quite accurate. (As you were referring to the Sash of the Order of the Elephant), the sash and breast star of the Order, are certainly not the Order of the Elephant, as the Sash of the Order is always suspended ober the left shoulder (like the Orders of the Garter and Thistle in the United Kingdom).

They are both wearing the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Redeemer (which could quite easily be confused with the Order of the Elephant).
I hope I've been able to clear that up for you. (I admit, it's quite tricky, Princes of Greece and Denmark, wearing the only Order in a British Military uniform which would be confused with that of another country)

Wow, you are a fountain of knowledge about military uniforms, ranks and orders, thanks a lot

 

[Von Schlesian]

You're most welcome Crisinaki. (There's a very limited demand for that kind of information, in day-to-day life, it really is quite irrelevant). Rank insignia is rather less cimplicated (in most cases), than Orders (especially those that look alike). I hope my manner of responding doesn't make me seem full of too much hot air!

 

[crisiñaki]

You're most welcome Crisinaki. (There's a very limited demand for that kind of information, in day-to-day life, it really is quite irrelevant). Rank insignia is rather less cimplicated (in most cases), than Orders (especially those that look alike). I hope my manner of responding doesn't make me seem full of too much hot air!

You've earned the right to be cocky with your (always) accurate info

 

[Von Schlesian]

Well I don't believe that I have any excuse for bad manners, so I shall avoid all 'know-it-all' attitudes I might convey : )

 

[crisiñaki]

The weird thing is that I have only seen them wearing uniforms in this occasion and royals once they get an uniform, they wear it as long as they can, anyone knows why?

Thanks in advance

 

[selrahc4]

Apologies if this link has been posted before, but this is a very good index to many royals, past and present, and their associations with the military.

http://www.regiments.org/biography/royals/colchief.htm