Gransnet forums

Chat

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

(124 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)

Bridgeit Sun 16-Aug-20 12:16:27

Do none of you have or wear medals passed on through the family by your ancestors. ?
It is quite a normal/ common thing to do, but hey ho any chance to criticise ?

Oldwoman70 Sun 16-Aug-20 12:17:08

"Well, he was in The Royal Air Force and then joined The Senior Service, ie The Royal Navy."

For a total of 5/6 years - others who have given a lifetime of service don't get half the awards he has

westendgirl Sun 16-Aug-20 12:21:00

In view of the present state of affairs does it matter. Looking at the front page of the Sunday Times........
Exam results chaos to end in court battle
M.P.in rape claim can return to Commons
Patel:Migrants see France as racist
250,000 missed cancer checks
A rust bucket to disaster
and that's the front page !!!

Callistemon Sun 16-Aug-20 12:24:10

Oldwoman70

"Well, he was in The Royal Air Force and then joined The Senior Service, ie The Royal Navy."

For a total of 5/6 years - others who have given a lifetime of service don't get half the awards he has

You're either a republican or go with the monarchical system which involves the highest ranking officers in Her Majesty's Forces usually being a member of the Monarchy.

Simple.

Bridgeit Sun 16-Aug-20 12:30:47

Yes the press & the news keep us up to date with what ever they think we want or will watch or read & more importantly buy.
Like cogs in a wheel, some times they get stuck or need replacing , but the old press machine needs to keep turning.

Froglady Sun 16-Aug-20 12:30:54

Bit like people who get awarded degrees from universities but haven't done the course.
In the Princess Anne story that was on TV the other evening seemed to be wearing quite a few medals. Do they get medals if they go and visit the troops in the foreign countries?

Bridgeit Sun 16-Aug-20 12:31:49

Often the medals are of ancestors.

Callistemon Sun 16-Aug-20 12:38:24

I've just asked a veteran and his opinion is that it is a load of b******t but that is how the system works - change to a republic and, instead of a benign monarchy you may well end up with a megalomaniac with supreme powers.

Trump is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces as are other Heads of State who are ex-officio Heads of their Armed Forces.

Grany Sun 16-Aug-20 12:39:21

I think it all looks silly with them all wearing chest full of medals. They haven't earned them.

I would love a republic I follow
Republic's YouTube channel topics about the RF

m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcJDKxGpI_iAJSYHWOacYupSmLYnollGO

Callistemon Sun 16-Aug-20 12:40:06

I think we know that Grany!
grin

Grany Sun 16-Aug-20 12:46:24

Callistemon.

Not like the US or France: A very British head of state
Republic supports a non-partisan head of state who is not involved in making political decisions or running the government. So we don't support a system like they have in France or the United States. We believe the best alternative to the monarchy is a head of state who is able to do the job that the Queen cannot do. It is a serious job of representing the nation, acting as referee in the political process, championing the interests of the people and defending our democratic traditions.

Oldwoman70 Sun 16-Aug-20 12:48:40

"You're either a republican or go with the monarchical system which involves the highest ranking officers in Her Majesty's Forces usually being a member of the Monarchy."

I repeat, I am not a republican, but I also believe that military awards should be earned and not bestowed simply through an accident of birth.

Should the Admiral of the Fleet not be a long serving naval officer? Should Marshal of the Air Force not be a long serving RAF officer? Why is Prince Charles Field Marshal when he has never been in the army?

Bridgeit Sun 16-Aug-20 12:50:08

Grany, have you never worn anything an ancestor or relative has given to you? a brooch, necklace, scarf etc
Lots of folks haven’t ‘earned ‘ something that has been ‘bequeathed ‘ to them , why should they not honour the past history of their own family?

annep1 Sun 16-Aug-20 12:51:06

Thanks for the link Grany.

The whole system is silly and they must know.

Bridgeit Sun 16-Aug-20 12:51:19

He is not Walter Mitty, pretending that they are his.

annep1 Sun 16-Aug-20 12:51:48

'They' being the RF.

Bridgeit Sun 16-Aug-20 12:53:17

?

Tweedle24 Sun 16-Aug-20 12:55:05

This thread reminded me of my mother, who used to check which MPs were wearing medals at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. If she spotted one not wearing any, the ‘Annie Walker face’ would go on and she would sniff with disgust.

Of course, in those days, it was unusual for most men not to have served.

Anniebach Sun 16-Aug-20 13:04:27

Grany you long for an elected president but criticised the voting at the last election, how would you fix that, ban the media ?

A president means a general election

Urmstongran Sun 16-Aug-20 13:04:52

varian

I agree with UG!!!

Wowzer varian!
#kindredspirits
?

gransal Sun 16-Aug-20 13:05:38

I don't usually post, just a bit of a lurker, but this subject makes me so very angry . How that man has the bare face gall to stand with all those medals on his chest, talking to men who earned their medals, is completely beyond me. Shame on him.

Urmstongran Sun 16-Aug-20 13:08:33

westendgirl

In view of the present state of affairs does it matter. Looking at the front page of the Sunday Times........
Exam results chaos to end in court battle
M.P.in rape claim can return to Commons
Patel:Migrants see France as racist
250,000 missed cancer checks
A rust bucket to disaster
and that's the front page !!!

Feel free to start a thread then westendgirl on any of those topics.
?

Bridgeit Sun 16-Aug-20 13:11:51

I would proudly wear my Fathers, it would never occur to me that anyone would think I was wearing them to imply that it was me that had been awarded them!

Parsley3 Sun 16-Aug-20 13:12:30

I don’t feel the need to be either a republican or a monarchist but I see no problem with questioning traditions. The queen has carried on the traditions of a bygone age. Perhaps, when Charles becomes king he will have his own ideas of what traditions he will carry forward. Wearing gongs that he did not earn might not survive.

Trisha57 Sun 16-Aug-20 13:18:51

Bridgeit - as no one else has responded to your comment, I will. Yes, I would proudly wear my father's medals, including his Burma Star. But do you really think that the medals that Charles wears have been passed down to him through his family? I can't remember either the Queen or her father, or his father come to that, battling it out on the front line.......hmm And no, I'm not a republican!