The Royal Navy has earmarked up to £200,000 to redesign the ceremonial jacket worn by its female officers. An internal memo obtained by The Times says the current design – a double‑breasted jacket with four rows of two buttons, the top row sitting at nipple level – has been the subject of repeated jokes within the service. The proposed revision will relocate all eight buttons lower on the jacket, a change described in the document as a “positive step for women.”
The redesign will be rolled out in phases starting later this year and is expected to reach more than 950 female officers. The memorandum notes that the bulk of the cost, about £185,000, will be offset by reducing the number of uniforms issued in the future.
The spending has drawn criticism from some personnel who argue that the Navy should focus limited public funds on operational priorities such as combat readiness and capability upgrades. A Royal Navy source told 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 existing jackets.
The proposal arrives as the UK armed forces contend with a projected £28 billion defence‑budget shortfall over the next four years. Despite fiscal pressure, the Ministry of Defence continues to expand overseas commitments, notably increasing support for Ukraine. Recent pledges include a commitment to deploy troops if a cease‑fire is reached and a package of 120,000 drones, part of a broader £3 billion aid programme for Kyiv this year. Overall, Britain has committed roughly £21.8 billion in military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the conflict intensified in 2022.
While the uniform change is largely symbolic, officials argue it addresses a longstanding morale issue for women serving in the Navy. The redesign will be monitored for its impact on inclusion and may inform future uniform policies across the armed forces. The next phase will involve production of the new jackets and distribution to the targeted officers later in the year.
