Queen Elizabeth was the first British female royal to join the armed services
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Following her death last year, the Royal Family celebrated the late Queen’s ‘deeply personal’ relationship with the Armed Forces, describing her as ‘one of our last links to the extraordinary wartime generation.’
The Queen was the daughter, wife and mother of naval officer, of course. Even her Grandchildren served in the Armed forces.
And the same applies to other royal families, too.
At the weekend, we saw the first pictures of Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, in uniform as she began a spell of military training.
From Kate in khaki to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in full camouflage gear, we take a look at the royal women who have worn military uniforms, whether on official duties or because, as with Elizabeth and Leonor, it is their duty to defend the nation…
Princess Leonor of Spain, 17, pictured in her military uniform for the first time on her first full day at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza
The Queen’s relationship with the Armed Forces began when, as Princess Elizabeth, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1945, becoming the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member.
After joining the ATS, Princess Elizabeth enrolled on a driving and vehicle maintenance course where she learnt to drive heavy Army vehicles, mechanics theory and map reading.
As Sovereign, Her Majesty The Queen was Head of the Armed Forces and was also the wife, mother and grandmother of individuals who have served in the Forces.
Princess Anne
Princess Anne being instructed on the workings of the Scorpion Tank during a visit to her regiment, the King Hussars, in 1974
Princess Anne driving an armoured troop carrier during her visit to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in 1985. She is Colonel-in-Chief
Princess Anne takes aim with an SA 80 Rifle fitted with a laser as Major Alastair Ross gives instructions. The Princess was visiting the Regiment on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire in 2001
While the Princess Royal has never served in the military, she has several patronages with military organisations and charities.
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In 2012, Princess Anne was made Admiral within the Royal Navy, and in 2020 she was made a General in the British Army and an Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force.
Among the Commonwealth, Anne serves as Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy and Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps and the Royal Australian Corps of Transport.
She earned these titles through her engagements with her military patronages and affiliations.
Princess Diana
The Princess of Wales seen wearing a boiler suit and climbing into a tank during a visit to the Royal Hampshire regiment at Tidworth in June 1988.
Princess Diana tries her hand at driving an armoured vehicle during manoeuvres in 1988
Princess Diana visiting the Royal Hampshire regiment in 1988. She was taking part in army manoeuvres in Tidworth. Her footwear did not seem camouflaged
During her lifetime, Diana, the Princess of Wales, held a number of honorary military titles and made numerous visits to personnel around the world.
The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment was named after Diana, who was its first colonel-in-chief until her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996.
The regiment was formed in 1992 by merging The Queen’s Regiment and The Royal Hampshire Regiment.
Princess Diana was also the Colonel-in-Chief of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars and an Honorary Air Commodore for RAF Wittering.
Sarah, Duchess of York
The Duchess of York on a visit to the Red Arrows at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire after taking a flight in a trainer aircraft in 1987
The Duchess of York in the cockpit of a trainer aircraft at RAF Scampton in 1987
During a visit to The Red Arrows at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, in May 1987 the Duchess of York put her best foot forward and took a flight in a trainer aircraft.
Sarah Ferguson was pictured from head to toe in military gear as she was pictured sitting in the cockpit.
Catherine, Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales pictured in March learning how to treat battlefield casualties during a training exercise with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards on Salisbury Plain l
Kate during her first visit to the regiment since becoming Colonel
Kate Middleton spent time with the 101 Operational Sustainment Brigade in 2022 at Abingdon Airfield to see first-hand how new recruits and serving personnel are trained
The Princess of Wales was seen wearing an army combat jacket and ear protectors
Catherine, The Princess of Wales visited Pirbright Training Academy in November where she spent time with the 101 Operational Sustainment Brigade at Abingdon Airfield to see first-hand how new recruits and serving personnel are trained.
The Princess participated in some of the training exercises and spent time speaking to personnel about their experiences in the British Army.
Kate had long accompanied Prince William to the St Patrick’s Day parades of the Irish Guards, handing out sprigs of shamrock – but now will be the regiment’s honorary colonel in her own right.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
A smiling Sophie attending the Countess of Wessex Cup annual competition at Gibraltar Barracks in February 2023
Sophie was watching the participants in The Countess of Wessex Cup at the Gibraltar Barracks, Camberley in February 2023
Sophie attends this annual competition which sees regiments and organisations she holds honorary military appointments with compete against each other in a series of challenges
Sophie holds a number of honourary titles, including Royal Honorary of the Colonel 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 Rifles), Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Army Music and Colonel-in-Chief of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment.
In March 2022, the Duchess of Edinburgh even became the new Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), taking over a role that was formerly held by HRH Prince Philip.
And earlier this year, Sophie put on her best camo to attend an annual competition at the Gibraltar Barracks, Blackwater in Camberley.
The royal headed to the shooting range with the rest of the soldiers, where she showcased her clay pigeon shooting skills before watching them complete a rafting exercise.
Princess Leonor
Leonor’s face was the picture of concentration as she took notes on her first full day of military college
The heir to the Spanish throne, known for her chic style, still radiated elegance in her camouflage uniform
The Crown Princess of Spain arrived at the Academy accompanied by the Royal Family, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia. After the official welcome, she said goodbye to her family to meet her mates and begin her training
The heir to the Spanish throne, 17, must complete the three years in line with tradition as she follows the path of her father, King Felipe.
Pictured at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza on her first full day of studying, Princess Leonor of Spain looked ever the military princess, dressed in camouflage and concentrating hard in lessons.
As she begins three years in military training in the air force, the Navy and the Army, Leonor is already hard at work in lessons.
She arrived at the Academy in Zaragoza with her family on Thursday and was assigned to the Cadet Battalion.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands
Queen Maxima looking the part as she took part in a training session for extinguishing forest fires as part of the Defence Helicopter Command. It was conducted with a Chinook transport helicopter from Gilze-Rijen Air Base, Netherlands in March
Queen Maxima giving a thumbs up to the crew as she steps out of the aircraft after training for extinguishing forest fires as part of the Defence Helicopter Command (DHC) in March 2023
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands got stuck into training for extinguishing forest fires with the Defense Helicopter Command at Gilze-Rijen Air Base back in March.
She was the picture of confidence during the training, which was carried out with a Chinook transport helicopter.
The royal looked the part in a khaki jumpsuit and a padded green jacket which she paired with chunky brown boots.
Maxima received an explanation prior to the adrenaline-filled training on how to extinguish forest fires from the air.
The helicopters at the base are deployed in support of the airmobile brigade, special forces units and Royal Netherlands Navy ships in particular. They also take part in NATO and UN operations and can be used to assist in fighting major fires.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark attended a celebration dinner for the 60th anniversary of the Danish Home Guard in Nymindegab in Denmark in 2009
Princess Mary of Denmark is appointed Captain of the Danish Home Guard during a visit with Queen Margrethe of Denmark on the occasion on the occasion of the Home Guard’s 70th anniversary in 2019
Crown Princess Mary participating in a parade at The Home Guard in the district of Copenhagen
Princess Mary of Denmark was appointed captain of the Danish Home Guard in March 2019.
In her role, the mother-of-four oversees the annual Parade – which celebrates Denmark’s liberation from Nazi rule.
In May, Mary wore an army uniform as she took part in a Home Guard Parade in Copenhagen. Mary proudly had four medals on show for the ceremony, including the Order of the Elephant, which is the highest-ranking order in Denmark.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, in full camouflage gear, demonstrated her combat and first aid skills to the media as part of a three-week military training course in Almnas, Sweden, to prepare her for international peacekeeping missions in March 2003
Crown Princess Victoria participates in an exercise with the Swedish Home Guard in Salenfjallen, Sweden Crown Princess Victoria visits the Swedish Home Guard in 2021
Back in 2003, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden demonstrated her combat and first aid skills to the media as part of a three-week military training course in Almnas, Sweden, to prepare her for international peacekeeping missions.
The then 25-year-old princess, practised combat skills, marksmanship, first aid and chemical warfare safety with 41 other men and women at the Swedish armed forces’ peacekeeping training ground south of Stockholm.
In 2021, the princess learned to handle weapons and followed the soldiers’ lead during a training exercise in Salenfjallen as she met with the Swedish Home Guard.
Victoria, who is no stranger to military exercises, having attended several throughout her life as a royal, expertly took aim, before handing back the weapons.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium takes part in a three-day internship at the Commando Training Centre in Marche-les-Dames in July 2021 after finishing her year at Royal Military Academy
King Philippe of Belgium hands over the Blue Beret to his daughter Princess Elisabeth of Belgium and her platoon during the Blue Beret Parade at the Royal Military Academy in 2020
Most university students find it’s enough of a challenge to drag themselves to lectures. But not Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 20, who juggles her degree in history and politics in Oxford with military training back home.
Elisabeth began her training at the Royal Military Academy in 2021 and remains involved in training despite being a full-time first-year student.
The balance of academic and military experience is regarded as an essential foundation for her future life as a queen.
It is not known how long Elisabeth plans to spend at the academy but her father King Philippe studied there for three years as a teenager.
Princess Ingrid visiting the Norwegian Navy at its main and logistics base in Northern Norway in Setermoen in October 2022
Norway’s Princess Ingrid prasticing parachuting as she visits the military base at Rena Leir in Norway in November 2021
The Norweigan Royal Court announced in June that the future queen would spend the autumn working at a school before beginning a full 12 months of military service at the Skjold Camp in Indre Troms.
According to the Norwegian military’s website, members of the Engineer Battalion are specialists ‘who, among other things, work with defence facilities, bridges and other constructions and CBRN.’
In 2021, the royal toured several army and air force bases in Norway to learn more about the country’s armed forces. Sitting in the F-16’s backseat, she was allowed to take control of the plane and pilot it as it flew over Northern Norway.
When she ascends the throne, she will become commandant of Norway’s armies….CONTINUE READING
