‘Inappropriately placed’ buttons forces Royal Navy to revamp female sailor uniforms at taxpayers expense
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An internal document revealed that the taxpayer will bear the cost of the changes
The Royal Navy has redesigned uniforms for female sailors due to “inappropriately placed” buttons.
An internal document seen by The Times said the changes will have a reported cost of up to £200,000. The No 1 jacket, worn by the Princess Royal at ceremonial events, would be redesigned “at the Crown’s expense”, meaning the taxpayer will bear the cost of the changes.
The current uniform has four rows of two buttons, the highest set at breast level. The new uniform will have all eight buttons placed lower, the newspaper said. The Times said a Royal Navy temporary memorandum sent to the whole of the fleet said: “The position of the top two ‘decorative’ buttons on the older design of the female officer’s No 1 jacket are deemed to be inappropriately placed.”
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The Navy is both a modern organisation which continuously adapts and is also hugely proud of our history. This change, which will be brought in over several years, addresses issues raised by serving personnel regarding the fit of female officers’ jackets, and is a positive step for women in the Navy while balancing operational and financial factors. The cost of the new jacket will be offset by a reduction in the number of uniforms issued.”
The Times said more than 950 serving female officers will be issued with the new uniform in the coming year, but non-commissioned officers such as petty officers and warrant officers only have three rows of buttons and are not affected.
In 2024, an Ofsted report found that restrictions were placed on armed forces training due to poorly fitted uniforms or equipment. Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s chief inspector, said recently enlisted female and smaller recruits were still being issued with clothing or equipment that “does not fit them correctly”.
In the preface to the report, he said: “Recruits in ill-fitting uniforms cannot present themselves as smartly as their peers. Occasionally, recruits are unable to participate fully in training because of poorly fitted equipment, such as footwear, military rucksacks, webbing or body armour.”