LONDON: The UK’s Royal Navy has expanded its mess dress code policy for formal and ceremonial occasions to include ethnic outfits, including the sari, to reflect wider forms of the country’s cultural identity.
Lance Corporal Jack Kanani, chair of the Royal Navy’s Race Diversity Network, recently made the announcement of the update to the dress code as part of the force’s wider “Cultural Equivalent” initiative. The existing code for naval mess functions already covers Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Cornish and Manx heritage, represented through the wearing of kilts and tartan dresses.
“As Chair of the Royal Navy Race Diversity Network (RNRDN), it gives me great pleasure to announce that existing Royal Navy (RN) cultural mess dress policy has just been updated to include wider forms of British cultural identity,” said Kanani.
“The RNRDN’s initiative, coined the Cultural Equivalent, initially began over two years ago. The Network canvased opinions from ethnic minority service personnel to understand how widening existing policy on cultural mess dress would make them feel able to celebrate both their RN and cultural heritage,” he said.
“The update in policy now widens that to be inclusive of other British cultures that serve within the RN,” he added.
In a social media post, he illustrated this change by an honorary female captain wearing a white sari, with a white shirt and bow tie along with her mess jacket. Regulations for naval mess dress have strict rules for above the waist, requiring all officers to sport their uniform jackets with trousers, a tartan kilt or a skirt. Now, the network hopes Royal Navy officers will be able to celebrate their heritage by wearing items such as a sari or an African outfit coupled with their jacket, shirt and bow tie.
The move has attracted some criticism, with one veteran saying it exposes the “Royal Navy to ridicule”.