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Historically, royals – from Britain, the Middle East and elsewhere – have done their fair share of time in the military. They’ve taken pride in being able to do this commendable thing as part of their lifetime of service to their countries.
Here we take a look at five royals who all served in the forces:
Sheikha Aisha bint Rashid Al Khalifa

Sheikha Aisha was the first female from the Bahraini royal family to fly a military plane – setting a massive precedent for women in the country and the Middle East as the whole, helping to pave the way for others to cherish such a not-so-long-ago-impossible dream.
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She flew a BAE Hawk warplane in 2018 and like many male royals from the region, went on to study at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK. She currently serves as a pilot officer in the Royal Bahraini Air Force.
Prince William

The Duke of Cambridge served in the military for more than seven years from 2006 as a guards officer and then as a helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Force. For the latter role, he was posted to the Welsh island of Anglesey from where he flew missions that saved many lives across the hills of North Wales and especially from the frigid Irish Sea.
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Prince Harry

Having joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005 as part of British royal protocol, Prince Harry spent a decade in the military. This included being stationed in Afghanistan twice, once as a Forward Air Controller and then as an Apache helicopter co-pilot. He was said to be a natural pilot and attained the rank of captain while on active duty. Besides the danger, he also had to accommodate living in difficult conditions on the ground. He told The Guardian, “It wasn’t that hard for me to adapt to the incredibly tough life of the army. I simply forgot about my royal status. This way, I was able to enjoy my life in the army.”
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Sineenat Bilaskalayani

Born Niramon Ounprom, she graduated from Army Nursing College in 2008, then entered combat training including jungle warfare and parachuting. She also gained a private flying license in Germany and trained with the Thai Air Force on fighter jets. She attained her highest rank of Major General in the army in July 2019 while consort of Thai King Rama X who had given her the noble name of Sineenat Bilaskalayani upon his accession to the throne. However, in October 2019, all her ranks and titles were stripped from her over alleged conflict with Queen Suthida.
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King Abdullah II of Jordan

King Abdullah enrolled at the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the 1980s to complete his military education. During this period, he was still working as a training officer in the Jordanian Armed Forces. Once graduated from Sandhurst, he was appointed as a second lieutenant in the 13/18 battalion of the British Royal Hussars, before moving to the Jordanian Armed Forces to captain a tank company. He then switched to the Jordanian Air Force, flying Cobra attack helicopters and ended his military career as Brigadier General and head of the Jordanian Joint Special Operations Command in 1998.
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Prince Harry, Prince William, King Abdullah II of Jordan and others – which royals have served their country in the military?

Prince Harry and Prince William both served in the British military. Photo: @dnaroyals/Instagram

(FILES) In a file picture taken on April 1, 2011 Prince William looks on as Britain's Queen Elizabeth leaves after being shown a Sea King helicopter during a visit to RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales. Britain's Prince William will be deployed to the Falkland Islands early next year on a six-week tour of duty as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, the Royal Air Force said on November 10, 2011. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES

(FILES) In a file picture taken on December 12, 2012 Britain's Prince Harry (R) makes his early morning pre-flight checks at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, where he was serving as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps. Britain's Prince Harry is to quit flying army Apache helicopters and take up a desk job organising commemorative military events, Kensington Palace said on January 17, 2014. Captain Wales, as he is known in the military, served in Afghanistan as an Apache co-pilot gunner during his three years with the Army Air Corps. AFP PHOTO / POOL / JOHN STILLWELL

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This undated handout from Thailand's Royal Office received on August 26, 2019 shows royal noble consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani, also known as Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi. - Thailand's palace has released rare images and a biography of the king's newly-annointed royal consort, including action-packed photos of her aiming a weapon on a firing range, piloting a plane, and preparing to parachute. (Photo by Handout / THAILAND'S ROYAL OFFICE / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / THAILAND'S ROYAL OFFICE " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

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For these royals, serving their country extended to a time in the armed forces, including time on active duty in some cases


Prince Harry, Prince William, King Abdullah II of Jordan and others – which royals have served their country in the military?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}For these royals, serving their country extended to a time in the armed forces, including time on active duty in some cases

For these royals, serving their country extended to a time in the armed forces, including time on active duty in some cases