Royal Navy spends £200,000 to redesign female officers’ jackets

The Royal Navy has allocated up to £200,000 to redesign the ceremonial jacket worn by its female officers. An internal memo obtained by The Times reveals that the current design—a double-breasted jacket featuring four rows of two buttons, with the top row positioned at nipple level—has been the subject of repeated jokes within the service. The proposed revision aims to relocate all eight buttons lower on the jacket, a change described in the document as a “positive step for women.”

The redesign will be implemented in phases, starting later this year, and is expected to benefit more than 950 female officers. According to the memorandum, the majority of the cost, approximately £185,000, will be offset by a reduction in the number of uniforms issued in the future.

However, this spending has faced criticism from some personnel who argue that the Navy should prioritize limited public funds on operational needs, such as combat readiness and capability upgrades. A Royal Navy source commented to the newspaper that the button placement “has always been a bit of a joke” and suggested that a simpler solution would have been to remove the offending buttons from the existing jackets.

This proposal comes at a time when the UK armed forces are grappling with a projected £28 billion defense budget shortfall over the next four years. Despite these fiscal pressures, the Ministry of Defence continues to expand its overseas commitments, particularly in support of Ukraine. Recent pledges include a commitment to deploy troops if a ceasefire is reached and a package of 120,000 drones, part of a broader £3 billion aid program for Kyiv this year. Overall, Britain has committed approximately £21.8 billion in military, financial, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the conflict escalated in 2022.

While the uniform change is largely symbolic, officials argue that it addresses a longstanding morale issue for women serving in the Navy. The impact of the redesign on inclusion will be monitored and may inform future uniform policies across the armed forces. The next phase will involve the production of the new jackets and their distribution to the targeted officers later this year.