Prince William has expressed his frustration at the way women are treated in the military.
The future head of the Armed Forces has, it can be revealed, been holding under-the-radar meetings with female service personnel as part of a drive to ensure they feel 'safe, respected and valued'.
The heir to the throne has also commissioned an article on the issue for the magazine Country Life, which he is guest-editing this month. His commemorative edition is out this week.
Speaking out for the first time, William says: 'We need to ensure our military culture is more inclusive of women.
'I want to play my part in making the military feel like the welcoming, open and professional place I enjoyed and make it feel like that for everyone.
'At the moment, I don't feel that we meet those standards and, as a former serving officer, I really mind it when those who wear the uniform now don't feel safe, respected or valued.'
Sources say he is keen to throw a spotlight both on how far the service has come, and the gaps that still exist.
But the fact such a senior royal and the future Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is speaking so publicly – and so critically – will come as a blow.
Prince William has expressed his frustration at the way women are treated in the military
Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, took her own life at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire, five months after reporting a sexual assault
The heir to the throne has also commissioned an article on the issue for the magazine Country Life, which he is guest-editing this month
There have been a series of scandals, including that of Jaysley Beck who was just 19 when she took her own life at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire, five months after reporting a sexual assault involving one of her superiors.
Warrant Officer Michael Webber, 43, was eventually jailed for six months last year for the 2021 attack, but two high-ranking officers were cleared in a court martial in September of covering up the allegation. An inquest last year concluded that the mishandling of Gunner Beck's complaint played 'more than a minimal contributory part in her death'.
Her mother, Leighann McCready, has fought a long campaign and said recently 'the Army let our daughter down badly'.
She added: 'We will keep pushing for a system where those who speak out are protected, believed, and never left to face it alone.'
A report last year found that 67 per cent of servicewomen experienced at least one form of sexualised behaviour in the past year, compared with 34 per cent of men.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said it illustrated the need for 'cultural reform'. Over the past year, the Prince of Wales has held public and private meetings with servicewomen of all ranks from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
They are said to have told him about misconduct including inappropriate comments, rumours being spread about those who turn down advances, and late night intoxicated harassment.
He has used these fact-finding sessions as the basis for a series of meetings with senior leaders to discuss what is being done.
The Country Life article highlights the case of Gunner Beck as a 'troubling history... of exclusion, fights for respect and, for all too many, bullying... and abuse'.
He completed seven-and-a-half years of full-time service including a stint in the Blues and Royals and three-and-a-half years as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot.
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