Prince William Urges Military to Go Further to Help Women Feel ‘Safe’ and ‘Respected’ While Serving

Simon PerryTue, November 10, 2026 at 12:28 PM UTC

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The front cover of ‘Country Life’ magazine, which Prince William guest edited; Prince William during a visit to his former air base, RAF Valley in North Wales, in April 2026Credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace/ Country Life Magazine; Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace -

In the latest issue of Country Life magazine, which was guest-edited by The Prince of Wales, he spoke about the experiences of women in the military

William said he wants women’s experiences to match the positive ones he had when he served

The Prince of Wales, 44, has quietly been gathering information on the issue of women feeling “safe” and “respected” in the military

Prince William is speaking up about how women are treated while serving in the military.

The Prince of Wales, 44, has been holding behind-the-scenes meetings with military members in the U.K. as part of a mission to ensure the culture is “safe” and “more inclusive of women.”

Prince William talking to servicewomen at Bulford, U.K., in March 2026Credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

William, who will one day be the head of the U.K.’s military, has commissioned an article in the latest issue of lifestyle magazine Country Life, which he has guest-edited. It is published on Nov. 11.

Talking about the issue for the first time, William tells the magazine, “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.”

He added, “At the moment, I don’t feel that we meet those standards and, as a former serving officer, I really mind when those who wear the uniform now don’t feel safe, respected or valued.”

His commitment to drive change in the military in Britain is borne out by his fact-finding visits to military bases around the U.K., talking to all ranks from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, a source close to him says.

The Country Life article aims to both shine a light on how far the services have come and also highlight that there is much work to do. The prince is now exploring how he can further engage in a long-term initiative to drive more positive changes, those close to him say.

Prince William at Bulford, U.K., in March 2026Credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

The magazine says William has been told about “inappropriate comments, rumors being spread about those who turn down advances, late-night intoxicated harassment in barracks and, most worrying, from one junior female, about women being used as commodities.”

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After those meetings, he has taken feedback to senior leaders in top-level meetings across the defense sector in the U.K., the outlet notes.

Prince William talking to servicewomen at RAF Valley in North Wales in April 2026Credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

When he entered the forces, William toured each part of the military, spending some time with each, when he was a serving officer, but he eventually settled on being a search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force. He was based at RAF Valley while working as an RAF search and rescue pilot from 2010 to 2013, including in the time leading up to his marriage to Kate Middleton.

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During his career, he undertook 156 search and rescue operations, a routine operational deployment to the Falkland Islands and qualified as an operational captain.

William holds honorary positions as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps and the Mercian Regiment and Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Submarine Service and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Valley, where he served, flying search and rescue helicopters.

Air Chief Marshall Sir Richard Knighton, who is chief of the defense staff in the U.K., told Country Life, “We recognize there is more to do to ensure every woman can serve, succeed and progress in an environment where they are respected and valued. We know the experience of women in our armed forces has not always been what it should be.”

The commemorative issue of Country Life, guest edited by Prince William, is on sale in the U.K. on Nov. 11

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”