As we heard last week, it sounds like Prince Harry is a single man once again after his thing with Cressida Bonas likely fizzled out for a second time. So, Harry is the most eligible bachelor in England, sort of. What’s interesting is that it feels like Harry has been getting his act together a lot in the past few years. He’s working hard, he’s organizing huge events (the Invictus Games), he’s growing in his royal role all while maintaining a desk job military position. I had assumed that Harry would probably never serve overseas in any kind of combat position again after serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan, but People Mag says that he wants to fly again:
Prince Harry has been talking longingly about how he misses flying. The helicopter pilot has been doing a desk job in London this year, focused mainly on bringing his Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women to fruition. But at a party on Friday marking the contribution of those who help to rehabilitate wounded warriors, he told guests he would like to return to flying one day.
Speaking of Harry’s reminiscences, Flt. Sgt. Lee Renard, a veteran of tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2006 and 2014, told reporters, “He said he enjoyed the flying and he missed it.” Indeed, another veteran, Flt. Lt. Lance Levin, a Chinook helicopter pilot from 27 Squadron, RAF Odiham, said Harry mentioned he “would like to return at some point.”
Captain Harry Wales, as he is known in the army, was honored for being the best co-pilot gunner during training in 2012 and then flew Apache attack helicopters on a tour that ended after five months in January 2013. He also took part in a 10-week tour while serving as a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry in 2008.
Harry took his current desk job organizing special ceremonial events about a year ago in the run-up to the hugely successful Invictus Games. He is still focused on that, aides have said. A decision will be made about his future toward the end of his posting, which lasts another year or so.
It’s interesting, but it’s far from the squirrelly moves that William made over the past year to ensure that he could return to flying, even if it was as a (somewhat) commercial pilot. People Mag makes it sound like Harry was just reminiscing, thinking aloud about how much he would love to do another tour. But The Daily Mail’s sources say that this whole thing has been on Harry’s mind for a while, and he’s figured out a solution to all of his problems: he needs to get married… to further his military career.
Prince Harry has told friends he wants to find an ‘army wife’ after voicing fears that his bachelor status may be holding back his military career. He has been a captain with the Blues and Royals since 2011 but is hoping for a promotion to Major – a senior role mostly held by married family men. The 30-year-old had on-off relationships with Chelsy Davy, 29, and Cressida Bonas, 25, and knows finding a girl willing to put up with royal and military commitments will be hard.
‘I’ll have to marry if I’m to stay in the Army. I don’t think I can climb the ranks as a bachelor,’ he told friends, according to the Sunday People. ‘Being a soldier’s wife can be dull, especially if troops are away on ops like I am. It’s a lot of hassle,’ he admitted to friends.
A colleague said: ‘A lot of the people Harry joined up with are now wed. He’s one of a small number of bachelors still clinging on to that single status. Harry says he wants to marry but he knows he has to find someone he loves who will put up with the pressure of being wed to a famous man as well as being an Army wife. That’s quite a combination.’
The role of officer’s wife is critical to regimental life, especially when forces are on operations abroad.
I’d never really thought about it, but I guess this might be true. It’s very true in the corporate world – married (heterosexual) men get ahead. Married men rise up the ranks faster than single men. Married life gives the aura of professional stability to men. But I wouldn’t think that it would be ingrained in Britain’s military ranks, where a PRINCE who had served two tours of duty and trained on Apaches would not be able to rise through the ranks because of his single status. And seriously, NO aristocratic or old-moneyed girl is going to want to sign up for this, even if he is a cute ginger princeling. The aristocratic girls have no interest in being an Army Wife or marrying Harry just to further his career. He needs someone more middle class, perhaps a girl from a military family.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Oh God it’s gonna be Engagement Meltdown 2.0 here on celebitchy.
“He has been a captain with the Blues and Royals since 2011 but is hoping for a promotion to Major – a senior role mostly held by married family men.”
Oh, that’s nonsense. This is how it works in the British Army: the young officers (lieutenants to captains) start out with some active service (if there is any – if there isn’t, they go somewhere and do the big NATO exercises or similar). After that, they go to London and do a desk job of some kind for a year or so. Then, armed with both active service and administrative experience, they get promoted to major. That’s exactly what Harry has done. If he wants to stay in the army, they’ll make him a major.
Being married has nothing to do with it. Most of his colleagues are married simply because most men of 30+ are married!
•Sixer•
Married men often have the very visible roles but I’ve seen single men (in the US military at least) with them too (not many to be fair). This report sounds odd to me — manufacturered.
OT, I have Mitford’s ‘Noblesse Oblige’! *squee* And boy, is it a riot! I’m fairly certain that my reaction is VERY non-U! Ha! And while I’m ROTFLMAO (so far my reaction to the ridiculousness of the language), I anticipate getting covered in dust bunnies. But I am prepared for that hardship. *sets face into stern determination* 😜
(More about your comment below, really). I do agree there are more than significant issues with marriage and the military. Mr Sixer came out for two reasons: politics (he doesn’t agree with the liberal intervention doctrine) and wanting a stable marriage and family, which he thought he’d stand a better chance of establishing as a civvie.
But Harry has simply followed the standard British Army officer career path and the thought that HE, of all people, would not be advanced to major because he’s single, is just ludicrous, you know?
Ha. Enjoy. NEVER SAY REST ROOM!
•Sixer•
Well, almost all Americanisms are patently non-U so I’m über screwed! 😉 And just from the tone of the book, I’m thinking the classes are: U, *waves hands* the rabble, and then, with horror, Americans. If you had a caste-system we’d be in the sewer. Lol
I agree, I think Harry is following the Army Officer Lifer plan. *yawn* And I’m not sure I buy these article(s) as something seems really off. Like really off.
*whispers*
Where is the rest room???
Haha. You Americans are useless at Posh Lingo! Look at it this way: at least you’re not Eugenia Malmains, like Unity.
•Sixer•
According to the book, we’re actually inverted snobs. So that might be an issue.
Did you just call me/us *Unity*?!??? That’s low Sixer. I’m hurt. *staggers and weaves away from Sixer* *pulls out a handkerchief improperly embroidered* *noisily blows nose into said handkerchief* *fixes hair in make-up in public* *trys to resume a semblance of normality*
(Although who is Eugenia?!?)
Ladies: killing me right now. love the Mitfords. was sad that Debo died last month. have all their collective works. ‘don’t tell Alfred’ and ‘Mitford: the letters between 6 sisters’ are my favourite works.
•LAK•
An old, dusty bookshop is where I found a few Mitford gems. They also had Grace Darling. I’m just so horribly American…. *hangs head in non-U shame*
Oh and I have a Stephen Barry book. His accounts is just ever so sweet! I loved hearing that HM loves her gossip. 😊
@ LS – Eugenia is Nancy’s piss-take of Unity in Wigs on the Green (itself a satire of fascism).
PS: At least you didn’t say tissue!
•Sixer• •LAK•
Okay, I now know who Eugenia is.
Serious question, is Nancy a better writer than Jessica? I started Debo’s memiors but got distracted. Which books from the Mitford’s do you recommend? •LAK• I know you included 2 — still stand by those recommendations? Why those 2?
Thanks you two! 😊
And for others:
http://www.newsweek.com/nancy-mitfords-dirty-family-laundry-71559
•Sixer•
Most Americans call it Kleenex with tissue is a distant second.
We had no chance. Not a bit. Lol
@ LS – Nancy was by far the best writer. But I think Decca was the coolest. You should read Hons and Rebels. I’m not entirely sure how interesting the Mitford sisters are to a general audience, really, but for the niche interest like yours, they really are fascinating.
LS: the letters are the collected works of the sisters to each other. Witty is an understatement.
I think all the sisters have a talent for letters, but they tended to write according to their own idiosyncracies and personal prejudices. As an example, Diana’s books aren’t nearly as witty and pithy as Nancy’s books. Debo tends to get distracted, so you have to read short essays. Jecca is as pithy as Nancy. Poor Pam and unity never put a word to paper, but they did contribute to the letters, so you hear the voice of ALL 6 sisters in the letters.
‘Don’t tell Alfred’ is typical upper English woman abroad bewildered by foreigners, but soldering on. i know far too many women like that which i find endlessly amusing.
If you ever come across an author called Jilly Cooper [Riders or Polo], it’s a similar style only it’s abroad.
😍 Thank you ladies! 😍
I absolutely adore how much I learn from you two (and many others)!
I seriously squealed when I saw ‘Noblesse Oblige’ and told MissSlippers how I couldn’t wait to tell Sixer that I had stumbled across the book we talked about so long ago.. She simply rolled her eyes and smiled. Lol
I remember conversations on here for ages, too!
@Sixer
I am broadly read, and don’t consider myself in a niche- LOVE the MItfords, their history, personalities, (absent the Facism, of course) and read everything I can find about or by them.
Thanks for your insights on their work and lives!
Finding a military wife/husband is certainly a challenge. There are a lot of women (and men) that decide they aren’t cut out for it and it’s hard for the service member. Usually ‘lifers’ love their chosen service but want normalcy of a spouse and family too…
And if Harry is looking for Army wife material — doesn’t that kinda mean he’s single or marriage was never on the cards with Cressida? Why say this now?
I can do the military wife thing but not the military mom thing. I grew up in a single parent family so I already find the idea of sharing holidays with in laws hard to grapple with. But having to do so when I already do the rearing alone? I don’t think I could compromise.
Agreed. He needs a young woman in her mid to late 20’s with a military career under her belt who has returned to civilian life and is now a teacher, scout leader, children’s sport coach, etc. Preferably from an upper middle class family, and quite pretty. I feel like we should set up a matchmaking service just for Harry. I bet you the celebitches in the UK know a person or two who would fit the bill.
•Hope•
How many of those that have transitioned from military service and picked a new profession will want to give it up so soon? That’s been one of many issues all Royal men have dealt with — asking their intended to give up their career — and its been a decent stumbling block for all.
Lady,
I know. Please excuse me if the flippant and sarcastic nature of my comment wasn’t readily apparent. Even if such a woman existed, she would have to love Harry and want that life enough to toss the rest of her existence and identity to the wind. A very tall order indeed.
•Hope•
I completely missed that! Sorry!!!!
I think Harry knows all to well that an Army wife, plus a woman okay with becoming Princess Henry, is a tall order indeed. I don’t wonder if that’s why he parties so hard — William ‘lucked’ out with a woman that forfeited a career for him. Harry probably isn’t going to get that lucky. Hopefully he can find someone that loves him and doesn’t mind the baggage he brings.
Lady,
Not your fault at all, I should have thrown in a winky face 😉 And I hope Harry finds someone who can fill the role. If any royal deserves happiness, it’s him.
•Hope•
I too hope he can find someone to be deliriously in love with.
I think he’ll feel the pull of wanting to marry a girl “like him.” He may seem down-to-earth, but his comfort zone is with the poshest of the posh.
I also wonder if the Middletons might have scared him off of “commoners”.
•Emily•
Why? He adored Chelsy and her upbringing was very similar to Kate’s.
I highly doubt the royals, themselves, are all that offended by the Middletons. It’s the old, dusty courtiers.
•Talie•
Agreed.
The late QM wasn’t royal and most weddings are now commoners marrying into the royal family. And this has been happening for quite some time too.
I’m now reading a book by the late Stephen Barry (long time royal employee– including valet to Charles) and apparently HM isn’t too fond of certain aristocrats, stating the aristos are too grand for the royals. I found that very amusing.
Yes! I believe the BRF isn’t an arctic fam. From what I’ve read from ex-staff, the upper end of courtiers are much more bitchier than the BRF themselves. That kind of bitchiness comes with years of service. Of course after that there’s the book deal and tv appearances…
So let me ask this-Does the UK military have a increased salary for the married service members? (not that this would be a issue for Harry of course) I grew up on military bases and there are many times where some of service members will get married for the salary bump and for the better housing allotment. (Married enlisted personnel get to live in standard housing vs. living in the general barracks for example)
Clearly it is not true of all military marriages-I still work with military and ex-military and many of them are very happily married and got married for love. But it is something that happens pretty often. Is there a similar phenomenon in the UK ranks?
•L•
I don’t know. And I’m a former US Navy spouse too (16 years). I’ve actually seen more people marry so she can get benefits (usually medical) because the married housing pay isn’t that big — usually only a couple hundred dollars nowadays. I think as inflation grows those couple of hundred dollars doesn’t go as far. And the UK already has good benefits for its citizens so my guess is money is less of a factor. Strictly a guess from the few Brits (married to American sailors) that I’ve met.
No salary bump – which is significant, when you consider how difficult it is to work as a service spouse if you’re continually moving around. But the accommodation you get as a married person in the services is better as you go up the ranks (read about married quarters regulations here: https://www.gov.uk/defence-infrastructure-organisation-service-family-accommodation).
Single enlisted men get dormitory or single room accommodation. Single officers get flats (see the RAF accommodation types here: http://www.raf.mod.uk/community/accommodation/accommodationentitlement.cfm).
The army also pays towards private education and over half that money goes on the children of officers (who are about 10% of the personnel).
•Sixer•
Pay is significantly better as you climb the ranks in the US military as well. It used to be that E-6 and below couldn’t marry as the pay and allowances were purposely designed for single men. Only senior enlisted could afford, and for that reason, were allowed to marry. The pay structure still haunts the US military — which is why E-6 and below often qualify for WIC and food stamps (the former is specifically targeted to improve nutrition for pregnant women and children under 5).
Housing for British enlisted and officers sounds similar to the American practices. They are called barracks here and officer barracks typically are much nicer than enlisted (recent years there has been a major push to improve accomidations). You can, depending on the command, live off base if you’re single. Married housing is an option for families. Most bases have a very long wait list for family housing and almost all, have unfortunately, been privatised.
The GI Bill, within the last decade now, allows benefits to be used by immediate family members that hold a military ID (with the military member’s consent). So that is a bonus.
All sounds very similar, doesn’t it?
•Sixer•
It does.
And would you like to laugh because this term caused me, a poor American, a lot of confusion until the advent of the Internet? Guess what the über traditional US Navy calls the enlisted formal dress top? A jumper. NO joke. I couldn’t figure how and we we’d use an adverb/verb as a clothing descriptor…that was until I made the connection that you yahoos use it ALL the time. *mutters* weirdos.
*face palm*
But the biggest realisation was listening to Harry speak. Most of the time I am consciously aware that Brits & Americans use different phrases/words/idioms etc. etc. so I expected that when he was being interviewed in Afghanistan. Nope. I understood everything he said. Harry spoke (much to his regret) in perfect military speak that apparently is not different in my neck of the woods. It IS however, different from civilian lingo (which creates another barrier into becoming accepted in the military).
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Here, for the various uniforms, they talk about “number 1s”, “number 2s” – but I couldn’t tell you which one is which since Mr Sixer is not here at the moment. Oh, and unmarried soldiers are “singlies”.
•Sixer•
I think the Army uses both numbers and intials interchangeablely for whichever dress uniform is called for. Probably true of the Air Force as well. But the Sea Services have to be ever so complicated! Lol. Their uniform names and requirements are much more extensive and varied. Changes somewhat often too!
The military has tried, and failed, to come up with ways to include single service members. Other than make names and titles longer I don’t think much has changed.
So was Mr Sixer in the Army then? How long did he serve? Ironically enough, I miss being a military/Navy wife. It took me FOREVER to adjust but once I did, I did it with exuberance. And was a fairly good military wife too. *sigh*
Mr Sixer was in the British Army for more than ten years. He joined up at 17 (naughty boy at school). Saw active service, spent quite a bit of time in Germany and was a PE instructor on the water in Wales for a while – he’s still a bloody good kayaker and climbs like a flippin’ mountain goat. As I said above, he came out partly because he wanted to settle down and didn’t think army life was good for a family (although as a singleton he loved it) and because he didn’t like the politicians’ move towards liberal intervention.
All before he met me, though. I’m most certainly not the type to be a forces spouse (long history of anti-war activism). We’ve each kinda smoothed out/refined the other’s thinking about this stuff over the years.
•Sixer•
I don’t touch guns so I get it. Lol. Most never thought I’d be a good Navy wife but I gravitated towards certain things and flourished there. I also adore traveling and moving which is necessary in the American military.
Liberal Intervention? What do you mean? Globally or locally?
I kind of doubt the usual rules apply to Captain Windsor. It’s a big win for the military if he wants to stay, public relations wise, and I doubt a bunch of officers are sitting around a table somewhere saying if only that Prince would get himself married we could use him.
I do find it very odd that he’s talking about what it would be like for his military wife as if she’s going to be working part time at Marks & Spencer and driving the kids to soccer practice while waiting for him to return. Yeah, still a Duchess or a Princess, or whatever, and working for the Family Firm. Despite what little fantasy life he’s creating where he’s just one of the guys, that’s not how it’s going to work.
•RobN•
Sarah really struggled in her duty to be both a Navy wife and a Royal. Andrew was frequently gone and it was exacerbated by the fact that Sarah wasn’t allowed to move on base (she asked too). She has often stated she thinks the whole issue of Navy wife vs Royal was a major factor in the demise of her marriage.
I don’t think Harry will be hurt militarily by staying single. However, being single in a predominantly married environment does take its toll on single members. I’ve seen that quite a lot.
Ultimately, I do think that finding a woman that is okay with both being an Army wife AND royal will be a challenge for Harry. Just one is pretty daunting on its own.
RobN, you don’t honestly believe any of this do you? And where in the fiction of the Daily Mail article did you come up with him nattering on about her working at Marks & Spencer?
Harry is consistently the one who understands that his life and his role are NOT normal, and has stated it publicly. It is William who refuses to accept that a Windsor boy doesn’t get to be normal.
•notasugarhere•
I don’t think William refuses per se — I think he honestly thinks it’s okay to keep delaying the inevitable. He phrase seems to be ‘Maybe next year???’ Repeat phrase annually.
I do think people buy the pageantry and forget that all that glitters is not gold. Also, most people don’t have a clue how hard being a military spouse it.
I said “as if” she works at Marks & Spencer, not that she did, or would, and I did not suggest that he used those words. That is my point, he speaks as if his wife will be subject to the everyday concerns of most military wives, i.e. part time jobs and chauffeuring the kids around, when in reality, none of this will happen.
He did say, according to the article anyway, that being the wife of a soldier could be dull, as if the lives of he and any future wife are going to have anything whatsoever in common with the normal military experience.
•RobN•
But parts ARE dull — both in military life and as a royal. I think a major reason he is still single at 30 is because the baggage he brings as a career officer and as a royal are a bit much for most women.
And Harry has strived to be seen as just ‘one of the guys’, my guess is, he’ll learn from his aunt and uncle’s mistakes and want the same for his wife to be ‘just’ an army wife too. At least for a time.
“Find a wife”?? How hard can it be?? I’m right here, Ginger Prince.
LMAO!
Me too.
*smile*
He looks great and seems to be a helluva fun of a guy, but would he make a good husband?…
I think he would get bored if he was saddled down with a wife and children. He would be expected to stop being a wild party boy and grow up the rest of the way. Those kinds of guys have a hard time giving up the excitement of a carefree single life.
Harry is fun to watch but he seems to wild to make good husband material. I think he would get bored.
•India Andrews•
I think it really depends on what his possible wife is like. I’ve seen quite a number of military party boys settle down happily as family men with only a few unable to transition to family life. Equally out there, the stoic, religious family man at home becomes the sex-crazed party animal away. Military is full of all kinds of people.
India, William and Harry admitted in an interview that William is far wilder than Harry. Harry has had two serious girlfriends in 10 years (if we want to count Cressida, not sure she counts as a serious love interest). Not exactly a wild and crazy party boy or playboy. As others said upthread, being a military wife isn’t easy coupled with being a royal wife (and always being bashed in the media to make KM look good). I don’t think he’d marry someone who wasn’t capable of taking on both roles, so he might end up unmarried.
My gut says he would. And you know what did it for me? When I read that he’d have a few drinks while he was out being military somewhere and drunk dial Chelsy at night bellowing endearments down the phone. Out drinking with his pals and thinks of his gf. I got all googly inside. 🙂
I have a feeling Chesly Davy will be the Robin to his Ted or the Camilla to his Charles. No matter who he dates, all roads lead back to Chelsy!
I was a military brat, and now a military wife. It is true that finding someone who grew up in that environment is good, because they know what to expect. Really, though, the most important thing he needs to find is a woman that can stand to be without him when he is gone. Someone with their own interests that can handle being alone,
The biggest problem is that he also needs to find a woman that would trust him implicitly while he is away, and he would have to trust her. Given his history, that might be pretty hard.
•Abby_J•
The cheater label might be solely to blame on the media as Chelsy and Harry were off just as much as they were on. And we never heard a pip about cheating while he and Cressida were dating. To further illistrate Harry with women, Penny Junor stated that Harry has not really had a woman kiss and tell about him — she takes that as a sign he must be doing something right. So there is that. (Even among long time royal watchers there is debate on how much of the cheater label is accurate). Regardless, trust is paramount on both sides.
I agree having someone intimately familiar with military life would be helpful as you are alone. A lot.
One of the earliest tidbits of advice I received was from an officer’s wife — she told me to cultivate my own interests and celebrate the time apart. It took me years to understand the wisdom. 😊
That is true. You may have a point. I don’t actually know what he is like with a girlfriend, so perhaps he really isn’t what people make him out to be.
That is great advice that you were given. It is so true!
I agree. It can be quite easy to live a life relatively away from all the army nonsense that goes on (note: I’m talking about Australia, which is similar to the UK in military structure I believe but I don’t know for sure) but the one unavoidable thing is you need to be able to deal with absence. Get yourself a needy spouse and you’re gonna have a bad time.
I Will actualy marrie you Honey your just so a Man 1 in a millón Man