So why isn’t your mother here, Sir? Veteran quizzes Charles over Queen's absence...

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 7th June 2009 | Sarah Oliver

[naturalman1975]

In Britain and the Commonwealth, veterans and retired servicemen routinely wear their medals during ceremonies honouring war service. It's a tradition going back decades.

Australian ANZAC Day March 1981

[LastNorwegian]

The English Queen wasn’t the only one who didn’t get invited. Norwegian veterans of D-day were not either. Not inviting the guys who were actually there on the day, now *that* is petty...

Those charming Frenchies...

[SuziQ]

Though clearly happy to see the Prince after his 11th-hour invitation, the French government’s perceived snub to the Queen continued to anger Mr Townsend and his comrades.

Did the French NOT invite the Queen? How gauche!

[SuziQ]

the Queen of England - the ONLY one who would been in that lineup who actually was in uniform and served in that war -

That's right! She was a driver and mechanic in the Army, and she and her sister, and the King and Queen remained in London rather than evacuate. I believe that's in large part, the reason they were so beloved. They shared in the dangers of all Londoners as the rockets were dropped on them.

[potlatch]

What am I missing, several have their left foot forward so I’m puzzled, lol.

[AnAmericanMother]

OK! That's quite different from here, if a former serviceman wears his decorations in ordinary civilian clothes it's just the ribbons, usually individually on the lapel.

If you're in black tie formal, you can wear half-size medals on the left breast. We used to go to the Highland Games here quite a bit, and the older guys with WWII decorations would wear the miniature medals on their formal coatees at the Tartan Ball.

[AnAmericanMother]

I went into the next room and checked my hubby's old "Officer's Guide", and it says that you are authorized to wear the appropriate uniform for your highest rank of service at military weddings, funerals, and parades like Memorial Day, etc.

It can be either the current uniform for the appropriate rank or the one in use at the time one served (if one can still fit into it!).

All the uniforms have been completely changed since my husband served. He still has his old Army Greens (Class As, the dull forest green with the black braid down the pants) and the olive drab fatigues (five sets of them!) I had to starch and iron those things until you could lean them up in the corner!

[SuziQ]

the old fellow got a gleam in his eye and asked, "Will you march with an old soldier?" and went out the big double doors and into the midst of the communists, leaning on this guy's arm. He said they parted like the Red Sea for this old guy waving his cane like a sword.

LOL! Musta made the old soldier's day!!

[AnAmericanMother]

You know, we kinda have a habit around here of abusing the French in general, but they DO produce some VERY brave men.

[SuziQ]

Yeah, the French Foreign Legion comes to mind, not to mention their more recent Special Forces.

[AnAmericanMother]

My dad never fought in France, but he spent a lot of time in Italy during the Second Great World Unpleasantness, and I think his analysis of the Italian soldiers may apply to the French as well.

Individually extremely brave men, very gallant as well, but poorly led and poorly supplied.