Prince Harry’s recent military service in Afghanistan underscores how the Monarchy and its interactions with the military have changed.
In 1066, William the Conqueror led his army across the English Channel and seized the throne. At the battle of Hastings, William was in the thick of the fighting, leading his forces from the front, inspiring his troops to brave deeds. William’s descendants have ruled England since that day, and for the next several hundred years, Kings continued to lead the English Army from the front.
At some point, it was decided that the King was a little too valuable to risk on the front lines. But this was not the end of the connection between the royal family and the military. It now became popular (almost mandatory) for younger princes to join the military. Queen Victoria’s father (who was never King) was an officer who serviced in the Red River Campaign in Canada.
However, in recent years the military has become squeamish about putting any royals on the front lines. During the Falklands War, Prince Andrew (Prince Charles’ younger brother) was a helicopter pilot on an aircraft carrier on ththe front lines of the fighting. The military originally wanted to remove him from the front, but the Queen demanded he be allowed to serve. Now, it looks as though she had to do the same for her grandson, Prince Harry.
There has been a dramatic shift from the days when William led his army from the front. Now days, the royals have to demand to be allowed to fight.
