Famous Members
Duke of Westminster - the third richest person in Britian
The Duke joined the Territorial Army in 1970 as a trooper. Read how he became Colonel Commandant Yeomanry of the Royal Armoured Corps.
James Blunt - champion skier of the Royal Armoured Corps
The singer/songwriter of You're Beautiful was captain of the Household Cavalry Alpine ski team, where he eventually came 26th out of the entire Army.
Further Reading
Articles from March 2008
Subscribe to articles by RSS.Prince Harry makes Queen proud
7th March 2008
The Queen, said that her 23-year-old grandson had performed a good job in a very difficult climate.
"There is a feeling in the family that it was right for the Prince to do his military duty," one courtier said."Like in any family there was concern for his safety but coupled at the same time with a sense of pride at what he has achieved over there. He is an outstanding young man."
Several members of the British royal family have seen combat in the past century.
Prince Phillip, served aboard warships in World War II; his great-grandfather -- the future King George VI -- took part in the World War I naval battle of Jutland; and most recently The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry's uncle, flew Navy helicopters in 1982 for Britain in the Falklands War.
The Sun suggested that there are plans for Prince William to serve on the front line aboard a Royal Navy warship.
Plans are being drawn up for the future King to fight for his country at his own request — like his war hero brother Harry.
Prince of Wales, like father like son.
In 2006, The Prince of Wales was promoted to Admiral in the Royal Navy, General in the Army and Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force. The Prince of Wales holds honorary rank and appointments in many branches and regiments of the Armed Services.
On being appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment, a few months before he was 30, The Prince asked to take part in the parachute training course.
The Prince felt he could not "look them in the eye" or wear the Parachute Regiment's famous beret and wings badge unless he had done the course, he told his biographer, Jonathan Dimbleby, 15 years later.
"I felt I should lead from the front or at least be able to do some of the things that one expects others to do for the country," said The Prince.
The Iron Duke – Britain’s finest soldier?
Wellington is remembered as the conqueror of Napoleon and as one of Britain's finest soldiers, despite starting life as a violin-playing Anglo-Irish aristocrat. The Duke of Wellington in 1809 was commander of the British Army in the Peninsular War, on Sunday 18th June, 1815 Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.
Dukes and Aristocracy in the army
The Duke of Westminster, joined the Territorial Army in 1970 as a trooper, became honorary Colonel-in-Chief of several regiments, then Colonel Commandant Yeomanry of the Royal Armoured Corps, later promoted to the rank of Major General. The Duke of Westminster was the first reservist holding such rank since the 1930s.
Worth the risk?
The risk of death or capture is clearly the overriding priority when considering sending senior royals or VIP's to war.
How much of a propaganda victory would it have been for the Taliban had Prince Harry been killed in action? Worse, imagine if the prince had been kidnapped, tortured and paraded before the cameras by machete-wielding Al-Qaeda extremists, promising and then carrying out a video beheading.