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Prince Charles wore 13 medals yesterday on VJ Day. What do you think about it?

(123 Posts)
Urmstongran Sun 16-Aug-20 10:22:03

I think Charles defaces the value and meaning of medals by wearing them when he hasn't earned them. I think the Royals look a bit silly with a chestful of them.

????????????? (13)

gillybob Sun 16-Aug-20 10:27:29

They’re not proper, earned medals really are they Urms ? More like a collection of badges .

SpringyChicken Sun 16-Aug-20 10:27:57

I agree. Say what you like about Andrew but at least he put his life on the line as a helicopter pilot in the Falkland war. I feel he earned his medals.

Parsley3 Sun 16-Aug-20 10:38:56

My OH made the same comments about Charles and the medals. He wondered what people who had been awarded medals for actually doing something thought about this. We need a Royal Correspondent to explain why Charles merits his chestfull of medals. I am willing to cut him some slack.

Kalu Sun 16-Aug-20 10:45:16

It does make a mockery of those who actually put their lives at risk to earn their well deserved medals.
Pretty sure Joe Public wouldn’t get away with this fruit salad on his chest!

EllanVannin Sun 16-Aug-20 10:46:29

For talking to trees and plants ?
My mum often used to say she'd get a medal for talking to herself grin

On a serious note, no medals should be worn unless earned through combat. It makes a complete mockery toward those who fought on the front line and who suffered injuries in the process. Bravery medals were probably missed to so many.

Sparklefizz Sun 16-Aug-20 10:47:37

I think it looks ridiculous for him to wear them. It makes him look like a tinpot dictator dressing up.

Grannynannywanny Sun 16-Aug-20 10:55:56

According to this BBC article he was awarded all these top ranking military honours many years ago by his mummy..

The Prince of Wales has been awarded the highest rank in all three military services by the Queen.
Prince Charles becomes a Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
His appointment to the honorary five-star ranks recognises his support for the Queen as Commander-in-Chief

Oldwoman70 Sun 16-Aug-20 10:58:18

If you check you see that most of these awards (I won't call them medals) were given to him because of who his mother is and for playing dress up, standing and watching real soldiers march past.

Lucca Sun 16-Aug-20 10:59:44

Daft and outdated like the house of lords set up.

Anniebach Sun 16-Aug-20 11:13:03

Anne wears medals

varian Sun 16-Aug-20 11:29:49

I agree with UG!!!

trisher Sun 16-Aug-20 11:34:34

If you subscribe to a militaristic aristocratic monarchy you shouldn't be surprised to find it being used for purposes such as this. It's how the system works.

Oldwoman70 Sun 16-Aug-20 11:41:06

Anne wears medals for the same reason Charles does - accident of birth

quizqueen Sun 16-Aug-20 11:42:51

They look ridiculous and should only be worn if earned.

Lucca Sun 16-Aug-20 11:43:12

Anniebach

“Anne wears medals”

I rest my case m’lud

Chewbacca Sun 16-Aug-20 11:45:16

An insult to those who did active service and put their lives on the line. As gillybob says, there nothing more than badges.

Toadinthehole Sun 16-Aug-20 11:47:04

Honestly...what a waste of space ‘ they’ continue to be!

Callistemon Sun 16-Aug-20 11:50:23

Oldwoman70

If you check you see that most of these awards (I won't call them medals) were given to him because of who his mother is and for playing dress up, standing and watching real soldiers march past.

real soldiers marching past

Well, he was in The Royal Air Force and then joined The Senior Service, ie The Royal Navy.
He trained as a helicopter pilot like Andrew and as a pilot.
Perhaps if he'd been involved in a war like his younger sibling that might have made him more respectable? Unfortunately for him, there wasn't one going on at the time.

But he was not in The Army.

Callistemon Sun 16-Aug-20 11:57:49

How do you define active service?

I'd like to know.

vampirequeen Sun 16-Aug-20 12:01:36

Utterly disgraceful that he has been awarded the same medals that others have risked their lives for. Then of course their are the special medals given to him by his mummy. One is the Queen's Coronation medal given to him in 1953 when he was 6/7. What did he do to earn that other than be his mother's son? He's also got an Order of Merit (only 24 people at any one time)
which is only supposed to be given to people who have been great in fields like literature, the arts and science. I know he wrote The Old Man of Lochnagar and daubs the odd water colour but that's pushing it a bit far.

Anniebach Sun 16-Aug-20 12:03:39

Republicans are going to react to tradition

Grandma70s Sun 16-Aug-20 12:11:44

Oh, for heaven’s sake, ignore it. They’re only medals. It really isn’t important. Dressing up does no harm.

Oldwoman70 Sun 16-Aug-20 12:12:52

I'm not a republican and I do object to his wearing unearned awards simply because of an accident of birth

Callistemon Sun 16-Aug-20 12:13:59

I think veterans are probably the ones who are entitled to an opinion on this and serving members of the Forces who have Charles as their highest ranking officer.

I suppose you either you agree with a traditional system or you want a republic.