Prince William calls for end to sexual harassment of women in the armed forces

The Prince of Wales has said more must be done to protect women in Britain's armed forces from sexual harassment. In his first public intervention on the subject, he says the military does not always meet the standards it should.

What happened?

Prince William held private meetings with service women of all ranks across the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. He then wrote about what he heard in an article for Country Life, the British weekly magazine, which he guest-edited.

"At the moment, I don't feel that we meet those standards," he writes. As a former serving officer, he says he "really minds" when people in uniform do not feel safe, respected or valued.

He will one day be head of the armed forces.

What did the women tell him?

They described inappropriate comments, false rumours and sexual harassment. Some spoke of rumours being spread about women who turned down advances, and of late-night harassment in barracks. One junior service woman said women were treated as "commodities".

The article cites a Ministry of Defence (Britain's defence department) survey. It found that 67% of service women had faced unwanted "sexualised behaviour" every year, and 30% had considered leaving the forces because of it.

It also highlights women with successful military careers. It notes that kit such as body armour is now being adapted for women, rather than assuming men are the default.

What came before?

The article refers to Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, of the Royal Artillery. She took her own life at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021, after reporting harassment and a sexual assault. An inquest later criticised a complaints system that failed to respond properly.

Scrutiny has continued since. In October 2025, hundreds of women alleged abuse in army medical settings. Earlier this year, four young women said they were sexually assaulted and harassed at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, a training college for teenagers. One said she was raped by fellow junior soldiers in an attack that lasted hours.

What's next?

The chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, said women's experience of the armed forces had "not always been what it should be". "Where behaviours and attitudes have fallen short of the standards we expect, we must be honest about that and continue to drive change," he said.

Prince William says he wants to play his part in making the military feel welcoming, open and professional for everyone. He also wants service women to feel proud to serve.