Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte will be forced to undertake National Service under Rishi Sunak’s bombshell election p…
Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte will be forced to undertake National Service under Rishi Sunak’s bombshell election pledge, reports claim.
Details of the controversial plan confirmed to the Daily Telegraph say that there will be “very limited exceptions” to get out of the scheme – and that young royals will not be exempt.
The new information comes after James Cleverly told LBC those that refuse would not receive “criminal sanctions” on Sunday.
The three children of the Prince and Princess of Wales will be expected to undertake either a 12-month military placement of 25 days volunteering when they turn 18.
Prince George, 10, will be the first to be made to undertake the scheme when he turns 18 in July 2031.
His sister Princess Charlotte, nine, will follow over a year later.
With Prince Louis, six, the last that would undertake the service under the plans.
The children of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie would also not be exempt – neither would Prince Edward’s son, the Earl of Wessex, who is 16.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister announced the new election pledge and confirmed all 18-year-olds will be made to enrol in a year-long military placement or spend one weekend each month volunteering under the plan.
Mr Sunak has received backlash to the proposal but said he wanted the changes to instil a “shared sense of purpose” in youngsters.
Home Secretary James Cleverly has defended the idea to Lewis Goodall on LBC on Sunday and said he hopes the scheme will help fix social fragmentation.
Mr Cleverly said the service will 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 added.
Mr Cleverly clarified details of the scheme saying the military bit will be paid, but the non-military bit won’t.
“The military bit will be a year long commitment, the non-military bit will be 25 days over a year.
‘Within their bubble’
He also said many young people live “very much within their bubble”.
“Lots of police officers, lots of people that work in public service also volunteer their time. The point we’re making is a really important element of this is mixing with people outside your usual social circle.”
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