The Windsors service in the British Armed Forces over the last century.
This is in response to a comment in the sub yesterday, that the Windsor’s appearance at Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph, was just a stunt to distract from negative news.
The Windors have more military service than most families, and have lost loved ones in war. Here’s a little snapshot.
Queen Elizabeth the 2nd’s (QE2) maternal uncles (The Queen Mother’s brothers) saw action in WW1. One of them, Michael of the Royal Scots Lothian Regiment, was WIA and a POW for 15 months. Another, Fergus, of The Black Watch, was KIA at The Battle of Loos in 1915. The family’s Glamis Castle was turned into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers for the duration of the war and The Queen Mother, then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, personally helped nurse soldiers to health.
QE2’s father, King George VI, saw action with the Royal Navy at The Battle of Jutland in 1916 in WW1.
QE2’s uncle (her dad’s brother) Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester, the son of King George V, served in the army 18 years and only cut his service short because of the abdication of his idiot uncle in 1936. Prince Henry still served in France in 1939-1940.
QE2’s uncle (her Dad’s brother) Prince George, Duke of Kent, the son of King George V, had been a pilot the Royal Air Force for a decade before WW2 broke out, and he was killed in a military plane crash in 1942.
*The late Duke of Kent’s son,* the current Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (and the Queen’s cousin) was 8 years old when his father was killed. He served for 21 years in the Royal Scots Greys.
The current Duke of Kent’s little brother, Prince Michael of Kent, served for 20 years in the 11th Hussars and saw action in Cyprus.
QE2 herself served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in WW2 as a mechanic and driver.
QE2’s husband, Prince Phillip, served in the Royal Navy from 1939-1952, retiring only due to his wife’s ascension to the Throne of The United Kingdom. Prince Phillip saw action throughout the Mediterranean in WW2 multiple times, and was Mentioned in Despatches for saving his ship from a Luftwaffe raid. He was also present at the signing of the surrender of the Japanese, although he disregarded this fact to talk about how his ship was full of Allied POWs and how their experiences having a full meal for the first time effected him deeply.
QE2’s son King Charles served 5 years in the Royal Navy.
QE2’s son Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, seeing action in the Falklands.
QE2’s cousin’s son, Prince Richard of Gloucester’s son, Alexander The Earl of Ulster, served in the Royal Hussars between 1998-2008 and saw action in Kosovo and Iraq.
QE2’s grandson Prince William served 7 years in The Armed Forces, first in the Blues and Royals (Armoured), then obtained his full pilot wings – both fixed and helicopter – in the Royal Air Force. Prince William flew a C17 to Afghanistan to bring home the body of Trooper Robert Pearson. He also attended Naval Officer training course at the [Britannia Royal Naval College](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_Royal_Naval_College) and spent time on HMS Iron Duke.
QE2’s grandson Prince Harry served 10 years and seeing action in Afghanistan as part of the Household Cavalry (Armoured) and the Army Air Corps.
QE2’s Granddaughter Lady Louise, daughter of QE2’s son Prince Edward, is currently serving in St Andrews University Officers’ Training Corps.
How many politicians who send our kids to war have a family so full of service as the Windsors? The Windsors attendance and participation at Remembrance Day Services is both an obligation as Head of State/family of Sovereign, and a deeply personal reflection of service and sacrifice to nation. It is *not* a PR stunt from negative press, but an annual remembrance the Sovereign and their family has been involved in since 1919.
Thank you for this information – this was really interesting to see how many in the family have served their country.
“QE2’s grandson Prince William served 7 years in The Armed Forces, first in the Blues and Royals (Armoured), then obtained his full pilot wings – both fixed and helicopter – in the Royal Air Force. Prince William flew a C17 to Afghanistan to bring home the body of Trooper Robert Pearson. He also attended Naval Officer training course at the Britannia Royal Naval College and spent time on HMS Iron Duke.”
I did not realise that William flew a C17 to Afghanistan to bring home a soldiers body.
2 comments
The Windsors service in the British Armed Forces over the last century.
This is in response to a comment in the sub yesterday, that the Windsor’s appearance at Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph, was just a stunt to distract from negative news.
The Windors have more military service than most families, and have lost loved ones in war. Here’s a little snapshot.
Queen Elizabeth the 2nd’s (QE2) maternal uncles (The Queen Mother’s brothers) saw action in WW1. One of them, Michael of the Royal Scots Lothian Regiment, was WIA and a POW for 15 months. Another, Fergus, of The Black Watch, was KIA at The Battle of Loos in 1915. The family’s Glamis Castle was turned into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers for the duration of the war and The Queen Mother, then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, personally helped nurse soldiers to health.
QE2’s father, King George VI, saw action with the Royal Navy at The Battle of Jutland in 1916 in WW1.
QE2’s uncle (her dad’s brother) Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester, the son of King George V, served in the army 18 years and only cut his service short because of the abdication of his idiot uncle in 1936. Prince Henry still served in France in 1939-1940.
QE2’s uncle (her Dad’s brother) Prince George, Duke of Kent, the son of King George V, had been a pilot the Royal Air Force for a decade before WW2 broke out, and he was killed in a military plane crash in 1942.
*The late Duke of Kent’s son,* the current Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (and the Queen’s cousin) was 8 years old when his father was killed. He served for 21 years in the Royal Scots Greys.
The current Duke of Kent’s little brother, Prince Michael of Kent, served for 20 years in the 11th Hussars and saw action in Cyprus.
QE2 herself served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in WW2 as a mechanic and driver.
QE2’s husband, Prince Phillip, served in the Royal Navy from 1939-1952, retiring only due to his wife’s ascension to the Throne of The United Kingdom. Prince Phillip saw action throughout the Mediterranean in WW2 multiple times, and was Mentioned in Despatches for saving his ship from a Luftwaffe raid. He was also present at the signing of the surrender of the Japanese, although he disregarded this fact to talk about how his ship was full of Allied POWs and how their experiences having a full meal for the first time effected him deeply.
QE2’s son King Charles served 5 years in the Royal Navy.
QE2’s son Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy for 22 years, seeing action in the Falklands.
QE2’s cousin’s son, Prince Richard of Gloucester’s son, Alexander The Earl of Ulster, served in the Royal Hussars between 1998-2008 and saw action in Kosovo and Iraq.
QE2’s grandson Prince William served 7 years in The Armed Forces, first in the Blues and Royals (Armoured), then obtained his full pilot wings – both fixed and helicopter – in the Royal Air Force. Prince William flew a C17 to Afghanistan to bring home the body of Trooper Robert Pearson. He also attended Naval Officer training course at the [Britannia Royal Naval College](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_Royal_Naval_College) and spent time on HMS Iron Duke.
QE2’s grandson Prince Harry served 10 years and seeing action in Afghanistan as part of the Household Cavalry (Armoured) and the Army Air Corps.
QE2’s Granddaughter Lady Louise, daughter of QE2’s son Prince Edward, is currently serving in St Andrews University Officers’ Training Corps.
How many politicians who send our kids to war have a family so full of service as the Windsors? The Windsors attendance and participation at Remembrance Day Services is both an obligation as Head of State/family of Sovereign, and a deeply personal reflection of service and sacrifice to nation. It is *not* a PR stunt from negative press, but an annual remembrance the Sovereign and their family has been involved in since 1919.
Thank you for this information – this was really interesting to see how many in the family have served their country.
“QE2’s grandson Prince William served 7 years in The Armed Forces, first in the Blues and Royals (Armoured), then obtained his full pilot wings – both fixed and helicopter – in the Royal Air Force. Prince William flew a C17 to Afghanistan to bring home the body of Trooper Robert Pearson. He also attended Naval Officer training course at the Britannia Royal Naval College and spent time on HMS Iron Duke.”
I did not realise that William flew a C17 to Afghanistan to bring home a soldiers body.
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