Navy to spend £200k to redesign women’s uniform over ‘inappropriately placed’ buttons
The Royal Navy will reportedly spend up to £200,000 redesigning uniforms for female sailors due to “improperly placed” buttons.
An internal document seen by TimesIt shows that the No. 1 jacket worn by the Princess Royal at ceremonial events will be replaced “at the Crown’s expense”, meaning taxpayers will bear the cost.
The current uniform has four rows of two buttons, with the highest at chest level, but the new design will position all eight buttons downwards, the newspaper reported.
Times A Royal Navy interim memorandum sent to the entire squadron said: “The location of the two top ‘decorative’ buttons on the previous design of female officer’s No. 1 jacket is considered inappropriately placed.”
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “The Navy is both a modern organization that is constantly adapting and takes great pride in our history.
“This change, which will be implemented 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 the reduction in the number of uniforms issued.”
Times He said more than 950 female officers will be given new uniforms next year.
Petty officers, such as petty officers and warrant officers, have only three rows of buttons and are not affected by them.
