Prince William Takes a Stance on Safety for Women in the Military
Prince William is taking a stance when it comes to women in the military. The heir to the throne guest-edited an upcoming issue of Country Life magazine. He used the opportunity to address a problem he believes needs more attention. The prince revealed that he doesn’t believe the British military is meeting the standards of safety for women who are risking their lives.
Prince William has been working with the military on issues facing women
Prince William’s remarks in the upcoming issue of Country Life are his first lengthy public comments on the issues women face in the military. Still, it’s not a new issue for him. His comments follow more than a year of quiet work behind the scenes. He has held private and public meetings with servicewomen of all ranks across the Royal Navy, the RAF, and the Army to hear about their experiences firsthand.
What he heard was cause for concern. Women described inappropriate comments, rumors spread about those who turned down advances, and late-night drunken harassment in barracks. One junior servicewoman told him that women were being treated as commodities.
In March, Prince William sat down with female soldiers of the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, in Bulford, Wiltshire. They discussed the Army’s zero-tolerance policy on unacceptable behavior and a new initiative to bring servicewomen together to talk and share experiences.
William has since met senior defense leaders to discuss how these concerns are being addressed and is hoping a longer-term initiative can be established. No details have been released yet.
Prince William hopes the military will become more inclusive for women
Prince William, who trained at Sandhurst and later flew as an RAF search and rescue pilot, framed the issue as a personal one. “We need to ensure our military culture is more inclusive of women,” he said, as reported by ITV News. He added that he wants to help make the military a welcoming, open, and professional place for everyone who serves.
The head of the armed forces backed his message. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, told Country Life that the military recognizes it has more to do so every woman can serve, succeed, and progress. He also acknowledged that women’s experiences in the forces have not always been what they should be.
Harassment is experienced by about two-thirds of women who serve
Prince William’s decision to speak out now is a wise one. The problem is significant, and recent surveys have shown just how widespread harassment is inside the United Kingdom’s military. A recent Ministry of Defence survey found that 67% of women serving in the military have experienced disturbing behavior. That behavior includes unwanted advances, groping, and harassment. Over the last three years, almost 300 personnel have been removed from service for unacceptable behaviour, according to the MOD.
These widespread problems were a factor in the death of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, who died by suicide at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in 2021. She had reported an assault and endured months of unwanted attention and harassment, but her complaints were mishandled. An inquest found that the Army’s failure to take appropriate action contributed to her death. The inquest also heard that one of her superiors pressured her to drop her complaint.
Women make up about 12% of the UK Regular Forces, and military leaders aim to raise that to 30% by the end of the decade. Hitting that target depends on convincing women that the forces are a safe place to build a career.
