“You’re the commanding chief of the Armed Forces, so you’ve got to know the profession,” he added.
Despite this expectation, Harrold also suggested that times may be changing. Speaking to Study Dog, he remarked that there might not be “so much pressure” on George, noting that “only time will tell.”
A Longstanding Royal Tradition
Military service runs deep in the royal family. Prince William, King Charles III, and Prince Harry all received military training in their younger years. Prince Harry went a step further, serving in the army for a full decade after enlisting at age 19.
Charles also had a distinguished military background, spending time in both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976. He started his service at age 22 as an acting sub-lieutenant.
The list of royals who have worn a military uniform doesn’t end there. Prince Andrew, Prince Philip, and even the late Queen Elizabeth II all served.
The Queen’s Groundbreaking Role
Elizabeth II made history at 19 years old when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s division of the British Army, during World War II. She became the first female royal to serve as a full-time active-duty member of the armed forces.
As stated by the British Army, individuals can enlist at 16, where they’ll be classified as junior soldiers until the age of 18, when they can officially serve as regular members.
