Lady Louise Windsor has been hailed for voicing ambitions to become the first female royal since the late Queen to serve in the military, in a “pivotal role” for the monarchy.
The 20-year-old niece of King Charles is said to be “keen on a career in the military” and “serving the King and country”.
Speaking to The Sun, a friend of the young royal claimed Lady Louise is “all about the army cadets and has fallen in love with it”.
Discussing the move on GB News, former British Army Office Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crawford said there is a “level of admiration” that should go towards her, should she choose to go down the military path.
The King’s niece has expressed aspirations to serve in the Armed Forces, it has been claimed
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Crawford heaped praise on the royal, explaining: “If she were to join the armed forces, and particularly the army afterwards, she would probably try to present herself at Sandhurst and undergo officer training. That’s no mean feat.
“Having been through it myself, and it is very tough, it does benchmark you and your character. If she’s determined to succeed, I’m sure she’d be a great asset to the Army, no matter which arm or service she might choose to join.”
Offering his verdict on the potential career path for the daughter of Prince Edward, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the relationship between the Royal Family and the armed forces is “pivotal” within the monarchy.
Fitzwilliams told GB News: “The link between the Royal Family and the armed forces is absolutely pivotal because the King is Commander in Chief.
Lady Louise appeared on the balcony at this year’s Trooping the Colour with her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
PA
“This is such a pivotal role because it’s not so much the power he has, but the power denied to others and members of the Royal Family.”
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Highlighting the last female royal to serve in the military, Fitzwilliams recalled Queen Elizabeth II’s “significant” role during the war.
Fitzwilliams explained: “If we look back to Lady Louise’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the war, that was, of course, very significant.
“And what we’ve got very clearly is the possibility of George, Charlotte and Louis also joining in one capacity or another.”
When asked if younger members of the Royal Family should be “forced” to serve in some capacity within the armed forces, Fitzwilliams disagreed, responding: “Whether or not they actually decide to join, that is up to each individual, and no one should be forced.”
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crawford said young royals should be ‘strongly encouraged’ to join the armed forces
GB News
In agreement with Fitzwilliams, Crawford agreed that although young royals should “not be forced”, a role within the military should be “heavily encouraged”.
Crawford said: “Forced is probably too rigid – I would say strongly encouraged because there’s a lot that they can learn from serving in the Officer Training Corps.
“Plus they get paid of course, and they generally have the cheapest bars in any university in the land. So I say not forced but encouraged.
“I think there’s a lot to be learned from serving in the cadet forces, and there is no compulsion to join the regular armed forces afterwards, so it’s really a university-only thing.”
