# What is this metal object on Prince Harry's uniform shoe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558 "2014-11-13T20:10:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/1 "2014-11-13T20:10:51Z")
It’s only on his uniform’s right shoe. [image 1](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/13/1415889824410_wps_55_Prince_Harry_meets_with_s.jpg) [image 2](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/13/1415889824417_wps_56_Prince_Harry_meets_with_s.jpg) None of the other soldier appear to have it. [Article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2833044/What-gentleman-Prince-Harry-comes-aid-lady-hat-blew-speech-praising-determination-RAF-counter-terrorism-unit.html) ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/2 "2014-11-13T20:19:14Z")
They look like spurs. I believe he is a Calvalry officer, so it must be part of the uniform. ETA: From here: [http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/PrinceHarry/Militarycareer.aspx](http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/PrinceHarry/Militarycareer.aspx) " Prince Harry remains a Commissioned Officer in the Household Cavalry." ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/3 "2014-11-13T20:31:09Z")
Yep, those are spurs. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/4 "2014-11-13T20:36:57Z")
Yeah, they are spurs, and he is wearing one his Blues and Royals dress uniforms - Household Cavalry and Guards Regiments have uniforms for every occasion 😉 . The other uniforms don’t have spurs because they are RAF uniforms, and hence a bit more sensible. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/5 "2014-11-13T20:40:59Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > They look like spurs. > > I believe he is a Calvalry officer, so it must be part of the uniform. > > ETA: From here: [http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/PrinceHarry/Militarycareer.aspx](http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/PrinceHarry/Militarycareer.aspx) > > " Prince Harry remains a Commissioned Officer in the **Household Cavalry**." That sounds…dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/6 "2014-11-13T20:45:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s only on his uniform’s right shoe. It’s on the left shoe as well. You can see it in several of the pictures in the linked article. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/7 "2014-11-13T20:49:07Z")
I kept thinking that can’t be spurs in 2014. 😉 The little pointy wheel is missing. Here, spurs detach from the boots. I’ve seen cowboys wear them at the rodeos. They pop off easily when they aren’t needed. thank you for clearing this up. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/8 "2014-11-13T21:41:48Z")
The U.S. Army uses them too. In Cavalry and Armor units you can wear them. But you have to earn them by going on what is called a Spur Ride and performing certain tasks. The tasks are different from unit to unit. [These](http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/500/medium/Army_Spur_Set_jpg.JPG) are similar to the spurs I earned in an Armor unit. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/9 "2014-11-13T21:45:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I kept thinking that can’t be spurs in 2014. 😉 The little pointy wheel is missing. > > Here, spurs detach from the boots. I’ve seen cowboys wear them at the rodeos. They pop off easily when they aren’t needed. > > thank you for clearing this up. The little pointy wheel is called a rowel. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/10 "2014-11-14T14:54:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I kept thinking that can’t be spurs in 2014. 😉 The little pointy wheel is missing. > Here, spurs detach from the boots. I’ve seen cowboys wear them at the rodeos. They pop off easily when they aren’t needed. They are called “Prince of Wales” spurs, interestingly enough. I think only cowboys wear the “pointy wheels”. All of the spurs I have seen in the US Army are the same Prince of Wales style. I earned a pair myself. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/11 "2014-11-14T15:08:55Z")
You don’t necessarily need a rowel to control a horse. A simple poke in the abdomen usually gets the message across. Remember the horses used by the military are well trained and not wild mustangs. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/12 "2014-11-14T22:24:19Z")
They are a fine tuning aid to the rider’s communication with the horse. Sort of like the old high end stereo systems that had a small wheel within a large wheel for tuning in stations to the millimeter on the dial. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/13 "2014-11-14T22:56:35Z")
Rowels are common but not essential on western (cowboy) spurs. English spurs are blunt, just like the Prince’s. Those are just ordinary English spurs. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/14 "2014-11-14T23:10:14Z")
> [@saje](#): > > They are a fine tuning aid to the rider’s communication with the horse. {…} I thought I understood that the basic aids, in order from finest to grossest, were; shifting your weight, leg pressure, etc.; above that was the use of the reins; first just moving the rein off/on of the neck, then engaging the bit; then, finally spurs - in that order? I’ve seen people move horses laterally just with leg pressure and get them to move forward and backward just by leaning in the desired direction with no other aids, including reins, at all. (Mind you, this was a cooperative horse (from the Doc Bar line of cutting horses - Bar Dandy Flynn) with a good relationship with the rider.) CMC fnord! ---
**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:** [November 15, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-metal-object-on-prince-harrys-uniform-shoe/704558/15 "2014-11-15T01:21:14Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > I thought I understood that the basic aids, in order from finest to grossest, were; shifting your weight, leg pressure, etc.; above that was the use of the reins; first just moving the rein off/on of the neck, then engaging the bit; then, finally spurs - in that order? > CMC fnord!\* Some horse racing allows whips, which probably comes just before spurs. I suppose spurs are the “charge into infantry” last resort. - Heh, very subtle