Why do the royal family wear military uniforms at weddings?

[VHG]

While watching the wedding yestereday I noticed all (or most) of the royal family were wearting military uniforms.

I know many of them are in (or linked) with bracnhes of the military, but why does that mean they have to wear the uniform.

I am sure many serving soldiers and sailers get married in a normal suit and tie, so why do they royals wear a uniform.

Seems a shame that on a "peaceful" day we have to be reminded of war.

(No doudt some people will say they looked dashing but it is still a reminder of war)

[brionon]

It's all part of the 'Impress the Serfs'' policy.

[RATTER15]

Iggy, I think it maybe time for a trip to the shrink, weather good down on the farm I believe!!

[WELSHYORKIE]

I got married in my uniform and my mam said i looked really smart (anyway i didn't have a suit!)

[boxtops]

Prince William was going to be married in his RAF uniform (I read) but felt it more appropriate to wear his Colonel-in-Chief uniform - and why not? Like it or not, the uniforms didn't remind ME of war, they reminded me that we are still a nation with serving forces, the Royals are the heads of those services in many regiments and branches, and we should be proud of the servicemen they represented yesterday. The Scots in our family wear their Army dress kilts and full regalia to events, my brother in law wore his Merchant Navy uniform to our wedding. Very few serving soldiers and sailors would marry today in mufti, they are proud of their uniforms.

All the escorts were from different branches of the serving forces - the Household Cavalry escorting the carriages would have looked pretty boring in raincoats.
This is part of what Britain is good at, military and regal pageant. If you don't like it, you don't have to, but the millions who turned out, and the millions more who followed on TV, found it a splendid affair.

[jno]

agreed, boxy - the sight of Charles and his sword did not remind me of war (if that's how we fight wars, heaven help us)

[modeller]

What a colourless ,dour, miserable lives some of you live. 21 milliion people all over the world watched and enjoyed a wonderful colourful pageant . Over a million went to London .
But all you chip on the shoulder, lefty kill-joys look for , is anything that diminishes the event.
Iggy someone suggested you saw a shrink. Don't bother, shrinks need a modicum of intelligence in their patients to work on.

[IggyB]

apologies all round if I've caused upset - i did not mean to insult anyone (other than the royals lol).

but seriously its been quite fun getting posting more - hope you all have a very nice rest of your weekend.

All the best - Igs

[Gromit]

Modeller,

Other than IggyB, the only other person whinging was AOG and I don't think either can be correctly labelled // lefty kill-joys //.

[Philtaz]

Have to say there are some fairly poor answers on here, to the point that some are pure guesswork!

Before assumptions are made about them 'looking daft' etc some people need to realise that those wearing uniform are either:
A. Commissioned Officers who have been to sandhurst and hold the Queen's Commission
B. Honorary Colonel's of particular regiments
C. In the vast number of cases, both!

William gained his commission as a Blues and Royals officer, as did Harry. William wore the uniform as an officer of the Irish Guards as he is the Colonel of the Regiment.

William wore his Queen's Jubilee medal, as did Harry, who also wore his Operational Service in Afghanistan medal as is their right. Nobody wore ANY medals to which they were not entitled.

End of rant......

[modeller]

Iggy I thought that was a nice apology. You could have avoided the backlash had you explained why you dislike them. Surely it's not jealousy ? For myself I would hate to be a Royal I think they have a terrible job . They have little or no real freedom of action, everything they do or say is under scrutiny. They have to ask if it's OK to go somewhere or even to speak to someone. What a life ! They can keep it .

[Mick-Talbot]

Nobody wore ANY medals to which they were not entitled.



lol........Charlie has more badges than Blue Peter.......You would think he had saved the earth from an alien invasion.

[RATTER15]

Maybe he did!! :-)

[IggyB]

modeller - your quite right sorry, I dislike the royals because they are an unelected group that hold major political and financial power within the country based on privilege and i do not feel they are relevant or appropriate for the country anymore. I would not like to be in their position but hope that Will or Charles will have the decency to work toward the dismemberment to the family as a business and maybe allow Wills children to live more normal and productive lives.

All that said I am very proud of our armed forces and feel that the royals work there should be congratulated - i just think they should maybe stick to that and earn a solid wage for their hard work without the county having to support them and their extended relatives who offer nothing beyond this countries obsession with the concept of celebrity.

btw if the left wing thing was aimed at me I'm not all that sure that you can place someone who is calling for the death penalty to be reintroduced left wing :)
But as said contentious issues lead to strong opinions I'm just glad we have managed to have a discussion without any insults being bandied around etc. good work us!

cheers - Igs

[Prudie]

Iggy a nicely put post however I don't know where you think the royal family has any political or financial power? The only unelected group that have that is surely the House of Lords? As for the children I believe most offspring of the royal family have had as normal an upbringing as possible and gone out to work since Charles and Anne started it.
Finally how can you expect William to dismember his family connections,who would?

[Philtaz]

Wiliam is a Search and Rescue pilot, Harry has served in Afghanistan and has expressed a wish to return. Unfortunately, the ever intrusive great British press, along with his status within the fabric of this nation will certainly limit this, through no fault of his.
I think it's safe to say they're both earning a crust and will in turn modernise the Royal Family, whilst still maintaining tradition where required.

Both are patrons to charities who benefit massively (in comparison to other charities) from having association with both of them.

[Mick-Talbot]

The boss of a cake factory may as well award a medal for
'best icing of a cake'
it would mean just as much as some of the crap Charlie swaggers about wearing.

[Philtaz]

http://en.wikipedia.o...ry_military_positions

This might explain why he wears certain attire and decorations at specific events/functions.

[Mick-Talbot]

I don't need an explanation Phil, they are joke paraphernalia. ........ IMO.

[Philtaz]

Fairy muff. Have to say I'm rather proud of my own pieces of 'paraphernalia', as are my children when I wear them on Remembrance Sunday.
Some traditions have to be upheld.

[Mick-Talbot]

Yours, Phil, are no doubt warranted. .. ..................Charlies ..................?