We need to ensure our military culture is more inclusive of women, Prince William stated in an article published in Country Life.
The future head of the Armed Forces has been holding unpublicized meetings with female service personnel over the past year as part of a confidential drive to ensure they feel safe, respected, and valued, according to Daily Mail. The heir to the throne commissioned a piece on the issue for Country Life magazine, where he served as guest editor for a special issue published in November 2026.
Drawing on his background as an alumnus of Sandhurst with seven and a half years of active duty—which involved time in the Blues and Royals alongside three and a half years flying RAF search-and-rescue helicopters—the royal expressed deep concern whenever current service members feel unappreciated.
During fact-finding sessions across the Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force, servicewomen of all ranks shared accounts of inappropriate remarks, rumors spread about personnel who rejected advances, and intoxicated late-night harassment in barracks, as reported by Yahoo News.
The royal’s formal military patronages include roles as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps and The Mercian Regiment, Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Valley.
A Ministry of Defence survey cited in the coverage found that 67 per cent of servicewomen experienced at least one form of sexualised behaviour over a one-year period, compared with 34 per cent of men, according to Daily Mail.
Earlier this year, four young women also came forward to report sexual assaults and harassment at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with one stating she was raped by fellow junior soldiers during an attack lasting hours.
The discourse surrounding military culture references the death of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, who took her own life at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in 2021, five months after reporting a sexual assault, as reported by Daily Mail. Gunner Beck had faced months of unwanted attention prior to her tragic death following a training exercise in Thorney Island, and an inquest heard about a complaints system that failed to respond adequately.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton stated that the survey findings illustrate the clear need for cultural reform. Representatives told Country Life that the organization recognizes the ongoing work required to ensure a supportive environment.
We recognise there is more to do to ensure every woman can serve, succeed and progress in an environment where they are respected and valued,
staff told the magazine, adding, Where behaviours and attitudes have fallen short of the standards we expect, we must be honest about that and continue to drive change.
Prince William has held subsequent discussions with senior defense leaders to evaluate ongoing measures and is exploring a longer-term initiative to address the issue, as reported by Yahoo News.
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