MailOnline readers reply on royals finishing up National Service

Some 85 per cent of MailOnline readers believe Royal Family members should have to carry out National Service after Rishi Sunak revealed plans to revive the scheme.

Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte could be forced to undertake the scheme when they turn 18 amid claims that the royals will not be exempt.

The plan would make it compulsory for the vast majority of 18-year-olds including the royals to either sign up for a 12-month placement with the armed forces or cyber defence, or commit to volunteering for one weekend a month in their community.

George, 10, would be the first young royal to be involved when he turns 18 in July 2031, followed a year later by Charlotte, nine, and three years later by Louis, six.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also have young children who would be eligible to take part once they reach the age of 18, as well as Prince Edward‘s son James, 16.

Now, MailOnline has carried out a survey asking readers: ‘Should the Royal Family be made to do National Service?’ More than 10,000 votes had been cast in the poll by 3pm this afternoon, with 85 per cent in favour and 15 per cent against the idea.

It comes after Foreign Office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan suggested that George, Charlotte and Louis would be expected to do National Service alongside regular teenagers when they turn 18.

The Conservative MP said ‘the vast majority of our young people’ would be expected to turn out for the mandatory programme under Mr Sunak’s election proposal.

Writing for MailOnline, Ms Trevelyan said that those volunteering for the military would not be sent to fight, and that the scheme would teach practical and soft skills ‘which cannot be taught in the classroom or the lecture theatre’.

But critics from across the political divide have dismissed the plans as unserious while leading military figures expressed scepticism about how they would work and suggested the money would be better spent on Armed Forces investment.

Asked about whether young royals would be made to take part, or teenagers with caring responsibilities, Ms Trevelyan also told Sky News it would be down to a Royal Commission to decide the scope.

But she added: ‘Fundamentally the Prime Minister has been clear this would be for the vast majority of our young people, our 18-year-olds, this would be a mandatory part of both their continued education and journey to adulthood.’

Mr Sunak made the first major policy announcement of the general election campaign on Sunday, vowing to bring back National Service for 18-year-olds – a scheme that has not been seen in the UK since 1960.

The Prime Minister received backlash after launching the proposal but said he wanted the change to instil a ‘shared sense of purpose’ in today’s youth.

The Royal Family has a long history of serving in the military with Prince William a Sandhurst graduate before he spent seven-and-a-half years in full-time military service.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said that the service would be compulsory, adding: ‘We will look at what the appropriate response will be.

‘There’s not going to be a criminal sanction for this, the same way people are compelled to be in education or training between 16 and 18.

He clarified details of the scheme saying the military part will be paid, but the voluntary section would not be. 

The Tories also revealed plans on how they would encourage teenagers to apply for the military scheme, including participants being potentially favoured over other applicants when applying for jobs.

One of the options is the introduction of fast-tracked routes into graduate schemes and the civil service for those who have served.

Another is that employers are encouraged to consider Armed Forces recruits during the hiring process and that participants are given the opportunity to highlight their military experience on their UCAS applications  for university and apprenticeships.

However, the Armed Forces option would be selective – with only around 30,000 placements for ‘the brightest and best’. 

But some ex-top brass questioned its usefulness. Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy who is a Labour peer, told the Guardian: ‘I’m delighted if more young people become aware of defence and are involved … but this idea is basically bonkers.

‘We need to spend more on defence, and – by doing what he’s suggesting – money will be sucked out of defence.’

And General Richard Dannatt, the former head of the General Staff, branded it ‘electoral opportunism’, adding: ‘The costs of this would be considerable in terms of trainers and infrastructure. This task cannot just be imposed on the Armed Forces as an extra thing to do.’

On Sunday, Mr Sunak said: ‘National Service schemes in countries around the world show just how fulfilling it is for young people.

‘We want to make sure Britain’s future generations can get the most out of National Service, that’s why we’re looking into ways it can open doors they wouldn’t otherwise get in work or education.

‘Only the Conservatives will take the bold action required to deliver a secure future for the next generation.’

Mr Cleverly said the plans show the Tories are investing in young people and trying to address some of the challenges that today’s youth face.

‘In other countries that we’ve looked at that do this, this is a very, very popular scheme, parents particularly very, very keen for their children to be involved in this kind of stuff,’ he said.

But a Labour Party spokesperson said the announcement was ‘another desperate £2.5billion unfunded commitment from a Tory Party which already crashed the economy, sending mortgages rocketing, and now they’re spoiling for more.

‘This is not a plan – it’s a review which could cost billions and is only needed because the Tories hollowed out the armed forces to their smallest size since Napoleon,’ the spokesperson said.

The Liberal Democrats have also slammed the announcement with leader Sir Ed Davey describing it as a ‘desperate’ and ‘pathetic’ attempt.

In European nations with national service, members of the Royal Family are expected to take part. 

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway recently began her 12-month military placement with the Engineer Battalion.

Spain’s Crown Princess Leonor is undergoing three years of military training, although the country no longer has national service. 

Studies from Norway and Israel, which have national military service schemes, suggest they give youngsters a ‘leg up’ into subsequent careers, the Tories said.

The Conservatives have promised to establish a Royal Commission, bringing in expertise from across the military and civil society to establish the details of the programme. It will be asked to look at models in other countries to design incentives for those taking part in Britain.

The party said the commission would be tasked with bringing forward a proposal for how to ensure the first pilot is open for applications in September 2025.

After that, it would seek to introduce a new ‘National Service Act’ to make the measures compulsory by the end of the next Parliament, the party said.

After the Second World War ended in 1945, the government felt it was necessary to maintain high levels of military presence across the world, including in parts of the British Empire and in Germany.

To address this, the National Service Act, requiring all physically fit male British citizens between 18 and 26 years old to serve in the armed forces for 18 months from January 1949, was passed by Clement Attlee’s Labour administration in 1947.

This compulsory service included varied roles at home and abroad such as fighting on the frontline or clerical work and did not extend to women.

Certain groups including students and apprentices were allowed to defer their service until they had completed their education or training.

National service was abolished in 1960 with the last servicemen discharged in 1963.

According to the Royal British Legion, between the end of the Second World War and May 1963, more than two million men took part in national service.