‘Insane!’ Prince William accused of ‘losing the plot’ as Prince George looks set to break centuries of tradition
Ann Widdecombe has voiced concern about Prince William's potential decision to break royal tradition
GB News
Prince William has “lost the plot” over the “insane” decision to let Prince George break centuries of tradition, a former minister has claimed.
Ann Widdecombe, who served as Shadow Home Secretary from 1999 to 2001, joined Dan Wootton to discuss speculation about George not joining the Armed Forces.
Reports have suggested the nine-year-old Prince will bypass the usual path taken by British Kings.
George, who is second-in-line to the throne, is not expected to serve in the military before taking to the throne.
The Mail on Sunday has reported that the future King will be able to shape his own destiny before succeeding his father.
The potential decision could raise eyebrows as the monarch is also Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces.
George’s father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandmother and great-grandfather all served with the military.
Responding to the report, Widdecombe said: “I think it’s insane and I think if that really is what William has decided, and we only have one report, he’s just lost the plot.
Prince William and Harry during a photocall at their military helicopter training course base at RAF Shawbury, Shrewsbury
PA
“There’s a very good reason why heirs to the throne serve in the armed services, it’s not because it’s a fluffy tradition.
“It is because the armed services take their oath of allegiance to the monarch and it is the monarch who signs off the order of war and therefore when they take that oath of loyalty to the monarch they need to be able to feel that he or she is one of them.”
The former Brexit Party MEP and Tory MP added: “If he decides that he doesn’t want royal life, I respect that, but then he gives up his birthright.”
Leading members of the Royal Family have enlisted in the Armed Forces for centuries.
Princess Charlotte and Prince George in the royal box on day fourteen of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
PA
The last British monarch to lead troops into battle was King George II at Dettingen in 1743.
However, the late Queen Elizabeth II also served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service and Women’s Royal Army Corps in the 1940s.
Prince Harry became the latest blue-blooded Briton to join the frontline.
The Duke of Sussex served in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.
He worked as a Forward Air Controller, called in air strikes on insurgent positions and patrolled hostile territory.
The father-of-two later trained as an Apache helicopter pilot with the Army Air Corps.