# Royals in the Military (UK) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902 "2011-04-27T15:06:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/21 "2013-01-17T08:47:48Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > The linked article demonstrates something about the original OP’s question, though: Even though he is known as Lt. Wales in his military capacity, news articles and other publicity about him (even when discussing him in his military role), refers to him as the Duke of Cambridge. This is how I’ve seen him mentioned in other similar articles as well as this one. > > Why is he pouring tea into a mug in his hand, while the mug with his name sits on the table? Does he have two mugs? Are _all_ the mugs in the picture his? Is he pouring tea for somebody else? With the publication of this picture, will they now have to change the names and passwords on all the mugs? If you read towards the bottom of the article, there was a kerfluffle because there were several pictures on his webpage one in particular was apparently in his office, showing his desk [with a document, and a page with a list of passwords] so I figure that it is from that picture the image of the mug was taken from. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/22 "2013-01-17T09:23:59Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > If you read towards the bottom of the article, there was a kerfluffle because there were several pictures on his webpage one in particular was apparently in his office, showing his desk [with a document, and a page with a list of passwords] … From years of working in IT, I know how common it is for users to have their logon id & password on a note pasted to the wall. (Or if they’re aware of security, carefully hidden under their keyboard.) But this unit had a page listing the logon id & password for everybody in the unit, with copies given to them all, and posted on walls or left laying around on their desks. And this in a military unit! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/23 "2013-01-17T10:39:51Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Was their drill sergeant expected to treat them differently from other recruits? I wouldn’t know for sure about the UK, but I think that the behaviour of drill sergeants in the USA (at least as depicted in movie in such), including apparently insults and similar disrepectful or agressive conduct is an American peculiarity. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/24 "2013-01-17T10:48:24Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Are there any strange implications if a prince ascends to a throne (in Merrie Olde Englande or anywhere else) and keeps his given name? Is it ever considered to be over-egotism or narcissism or something like that to keep one’s given name? AFAIK, princes typically used to and still reign under their given name. The UK seems to be an exception rather than the norm ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/25 "2013-01-17T11:44:50Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > insults and similar disrepectful or agressive conduct is an American peculiarity. No, it occurs in other countries’ military, too. For example, I have seen Youtube videos of Russian recruits being treated much worse, actual assaults that result in injuries or even death. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/26 "2013-01-17T13:47:55Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I wouldn’t know for sure about the UK, but I think that the behaviour of drill sergeants in the USA (at least as depicted in movie in such), including apparently insults and similar disrepectful or agressive conduct is an American peculiarity. Well, as recently as the 19th century every country in Europe still flogged soldiers. Further, having been in the American military and worked with people in European military forces I can say for they got chewed out if they did something really stupid. Now, I don’t know what happened in their equivalent of basic training. With many European countries that have mandatory conscription periods I wouldn’t be surprised if basic is moderate or light, since the powers that be recognize these kids are not there by choice and they don’t want to make it miserable for no reason. With an all volunteer military there is more of a desire towards discipline. I will say the British military types I’ve interacted with are typically tough sorts, I’d be surprised really if they are coddled in training. ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/27 "2013-01-17T14:59:05Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > No, it occurs in other countries’ military, too. > > For example, I have seen Youtube videos of Russian recruits being treated much worse, actual assaults that result in injuries or even death. +1. American treatment of recruits is mild compared to what soldiers in other countries are put through. France, Russia, South Korea… take your pick. And those are the developed countries. I’ve had British soldiers tell me stories of treatment that would result in criminal charges if it happened in the modern US. And BTW, modern Army basic is tough but not “Full Metal Jacket” by any stretch of the imagination. Since the US is entirely VOLAR, there is a limit to how badly you can mistreat a soldier before you eventually end up with no recruits. ---
**Author:** ![sidecar\_jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sidecar\_jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidecar_jon)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/28 "2013-01-17T15:35:52Z")
I’d point out that as they were trained as officers they would even as raw recruits be addressed as sir, even by the NCO’s training them as in “Get your f\*\*king hair cut…SIR” Also differing arms of the UK military have vastly differing recruit training. A friends lad joined the navy a few years ago. A weedy guy and a bit nerdy he seemed doomed to fail. But he found it a nurturing environment and sort of like a family. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/29 "2013-01-17T16:28:18Z")
> [@solosam](#): > > I’ve had British soldiers tell me stories of treatment that would result in criminal charges if it happened in the modern US. The British soldier is a lean, mean killing machine (also very good at telling stories 😉 ). Mind you, a school mate of mine joined the Royal Marines. That’s quite a robust selection process by all accounts. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/30 "2013-01-17T17:03:25Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The British soldier is a lean, mean killing machine (also very good at telling stories 😉 ). Mind you, a school mate of mine joined the Royal Marines. That’s quite a robust selection process by all accounts. Indeed. In 1987, Prince Edward dropped out of Royal Marines training just three months into the yearlong program. Here are two good brief documentaries on the rigors of contemporary British military training: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/E2ecasPqhgk/hqdefault.jpg "Monty Python - Military March") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2ecasPqhgk) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/imhrDrE4-mI/hqdefault.jpg "British Army, Monty Python marching up and down the square, hilarious.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imhrDrE4-mI) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/31 "2013-01-17T17:46:54Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > AFAIK, princes typically used to and still reign under their given name. The UK seems to be an exception rather than the norm What UK monarch hasn’t reigned under one of their given names? I can’t think of any. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/32 "2013-01-17T17:55:18Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > It also seems there was at that point a sort of family tradition of disregarding Queen Victoria’s alleged desire for her descendants to reign under the name Albert. > > So Albert Edward of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha reigned as Edward VII, and eventually gave up any claim to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and changed the house name to Windsor. It wasn’t that Victoria wanted them to reign as Albert, but that all male descendants have the name “Albert” as one of their names. Also, Edward VIII didn’t change the name to “Windsor”. That was done by George V during the Great War. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/33 "2013-01-17T18:02:04Z")
And if you mean that British monarchs skip over their first given names, that also is not true for the majority. ---
**Author:** ![sidecar\_jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sidecar\_jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidecar_jon)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/34 "2013-01-17T21:38:05Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The British soldier is a lean, mean killing machine Until the run low on soldiers then almost anyone is fit to be shot.. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/35 "2013-01-18T02:09:01Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Edward VIII didn’t change the name to “Windsor”. That was done by George V during the Great War. You’re right. I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/36 "2013-01-18T02:34:17Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > A quick google image search for Lieutenant Wales will find several photos of William in uniform, with a name tag of Wales visible. Here are a few: > > [http://www.waypointmagazine.com/sites/default/files/u6/PrinceWilliam1.jpg](http://www.waypointmagazine.com/sites/default/files/u6/PrinceWilliam1.jpg) > [LA ARGENTINA ROYAL FLEET: Image](http://royalfleet.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/william-wales.jpg) > [http://www.lalsace.fr/fr/images/CE155616-706F-434F-A350-2003F538F9F2/ALS\_03/le-lieutenant-wales-(galles-son-nom-d-officier)-en-conversation-avec-sa-royale-grand-mere-afp-andr.jpg](http://www.lalsace.fr/fr/images/CE155616-706F-434F-A350-2003F538F9F2/ALS_03/le-lieutenant-wales-%28galles-son-nom-d-officier%29-en-conversation-avec-sa-royale-grand-mere-afp-andr.jpg) (with Grandmum) > > And while we’re at it, here’s a photo of Prince Harry in uniform with name tag showing “Harry Wales” (interesting that his first name is shown as Harry, not Harold or whatever his first name really is): > [http://www.princess-diana-remembered.com/uploads/5/3/3/5/5335384/7620314.jpg](http://www.princess-diana-remembered.com/uploads/5/3/3/5/5335384/7620314.jpg) Note that two of the pictures of his brother show him wearing a nametag that reads “Will Wales.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/37 "2013-01-18T21:08:25Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Now, I don’t know what happened in their equivalent of basic training. With many European countries that have mandatory conscription periods I wouldn’t be surprised if basic is moderate or light, since the powers that be recognize these kids are not there by choice and they don’t want to make it miserable for no reason. With an all volunteer military there is more of a desire towards discipline. That doesn’t make any sense at all. The purpose of the rough treatment in the military, especially in basic training, has nothing to do with whether the recruits elected to be mistreated or were conscripted. It serves the purpose to push them to their limits and to reshape them psychologically to the expectations of the military. Those needs apply to conscripts just as much as volunteers, perhaps even more so. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/38 "2013-01-19T03:25:33Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I think Catherine of Aragon might have invaded Scotland while Henry VIII was in France, but I think she stayed in London instead of actually leading troops into battle. Matilda of Boulogne led the troops that broke the siege of Winchester. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/39 "2013-01-19T07:26:07Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > That doesn’t make any sense at all. The purpose of the rough treatment in the military, especially in basic training, has nothing to do with whether the recruits elected to be mistreated or were conscripted. It serves the purpose to push them to their limits and to reshape them psychologically to the expectations of the military. Those needs apply to conscripts just as much as volunteers, perhaps even more so. Except in a lot of countries with universal conscription, but not actual, you know, wars and stuff, the term of conscription is viewed as a certain amount of bullshit that everyone has to go through, so there’s an incentive to make it as trouble free as possible. After all, if it were tough and people hated it pretty soon there’d be grumbling about abolishing universal conscription. And anyway, what exactly are you supposed to do with the slackers and mama’s boys who are willing to go through the motions but aren’t willing reshape themselves psychologically to the expectations of the military? Send them to the stockade? In Russia or China they are quite willing to literally beat the hell out of conscripts who won’t play ball. That isn’t going to fly in Austria or Denmark. In a democratic country you can’t mistreat conscripts just because the conscripts aren’t very good soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902/40 "2013-01-19T17:32:00Z")
As suggested above by having security officers around a Royal, aren’t there specific _laws_ about minimum security around Harry, as, I presume, around the Queen? Can he, or the President of the United States, go swimming with sharks, or glide with those body suits, for example? Or, for that matter, tell his Secret Service to go take a hike when he does these things? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/royals-in-the-military-uk/579902.md?page=3)