King Charles' medals and military service explained including rare historic award
The king is often seen wearing medals with his military uniformKing Charles served both in the navy and air force during his military career and has often been seeing wearing a lot of medals – so why does he have so many and what do they mean?
When we see the monarch wearing appropriate regalia reflecting his service and ranks in the navy and air force, many royal fans wonder where each of them came from.
Like other members of The Firm, King Charles proudly wears the medals at high-profile and important events in the palace calendar. Fans would have seen Prince William donning his own medals during appearances.
What medals does King Charles wear?
King Charles has been awarded several medals, he usually wears them in this order: Queen’s Service Order (New Zealand), Coronation Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal, Golden Jubilee Medal, Diamond Jubilee Medal, Platinum Jubilee Medal, Naval Long Service Good Conduct (LSC) with three additional service bars, Canadian Forces Decoration with three additional service bars, The New Zealand Commemorative Medal and New Zealand Armed Forces Award. The monarch was also awarded the Garter Star – the most prestigious British order of chivalry – in 1958.
Aside from medals, King Charles also wears other decorations, such as the Garter Star, Thistle Star, Bath’s Sovereign’s badge, Order of Merit, Royal Victorian Order which includes the chain and GCVO sash.
Why does Charles have so many medals?
The full medal bar the king wears is pinned on the left hand side of his jacket.
Although he never saw active military experience, King Charles wears his medals to reflect his experience in the armed forces. His brother Prince Andrew and son Prince Harry saw active duty in the Falklands War and Afghanistan. Although, as no longer working members of The Firm, they were told they cannot wear their military uniform anymore at events.
The Queen’s Service medal – now known as the King’s Service Medal – is given out for public service or community service. Whereas the Coronation Medal is handed out for the coronation for the new monarch and Jubilee Medals for relevant celebrations. For the Naval Long Service Good Conduct, it represents those who serve in the Royal Navy for at least 10 years. When it comes to the Canadian Forces Decoration, it follows a similar reason, for long service – usually after 12 years. The King’s New Zealand Commemorative Medal marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Charles’ siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, also received the medal. The New Zealand Armed Forces Award is handed out for long service.
The Order of the Garter reflects the most senior knighthood in the UK, dating back to 1348.
Was King Charles in the military?
The then prince underwent Royal Air Force training while studying at Cambridge University -requesting it himself as a 19-year-old. He began flying in 1968 and went solo the following year before obtaining his pilot’s licence in 1970.
In 1971, he trained as a jet pilot at RAF College at Cranwell in Lincolnshire and attended his passing out parade six months later ahead of his naval career. The royal served on the guided missile destroyer HMS Norfolk in 1971 and 1972 as well as the frigate sHMS Minerva the following year and the HMS Jupiter in 1974. He was described as an ‘above average pilot’.
That same year he qualified as a helicopter pilot at RNAS Yeovilton and operated from HMS Hermes as part of the 845 Naval Air Squadron. During his time in the navy, he flew helicopters – which both his sons also did.
In 1976, King Charles took command of the coastal minehunter HMS Bronington for his final months of active military service in the navy.
During his pilot training, he learned to fly numerous aircraft, including a Chipmunk basic pilot trainer, BAC Jet Provost jet trainer and a Beagle Basset multi-engine trainer. The prince would fly the Hawker Siddeley Andover, Westland Wessex and BAe 146 aircraft of The Queen’s flight.
Royal gave up pilot career after plane crash
Despite 20 years of experience in the cockpit, the young Prince Charles suffered a crash in the Queen’s Flight in 1994.
After taken over the controls of the 146 aircraft as it came in to land on the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, three tyres burst when it hit the runway. The prince was enjoying a five-day rout of Scotland at the time and was heading to visit a distillery, primary school and woollen mill.
The aircraft was carrying too much speed while battling 33mph tailwinds and the royal had to turn to avoid going onto rough land that had a 14ft drop.
Fortunately, no injuries were recorded but the £10 million ‘Whisper Jet’ suffered a damaged nose cone, weather radar and landing gear. He decided to hang up his flying gloves and hasn’t piloted a plane since the incident – insisting that the near miss was not a ‘crash’.
Charles now is a passenger on planes, including the royal family jet.
Read more: What languages does King Charles speak after showing off his French, German and Italian skills?
What military rank does the king hold?
Although he left the military in 1976, King Charles does continue to work closely with the armed forces. 10 years before her death, his mother Queen Elizabeth II awarded the then Prince of Wales the highest rank in all three services – Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
The uniform Charles wore in his first portrait as king reflects his rank as the Admiral of the Fleet.
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