The blogosphere is already bursting with agonised comment about Prince Harry’s unwise and unpleasant remarks, captured on video, which he made as a Sandhurst cadet in 2006. The management blog is not about to add to the extensive ongoing chatter on racism, real and imagined.
But there’s something else about this episode that the British army will, I think, find quite upsetting. And that is the highly informal briefing technique used by the Prince as he speaks to his comrades in the film.
I’ve been down to Sandhurst (near Camberley in Surrey) to watch the cadets in action. They are not trained to talk like this, casually, with a pen in the mouth. Officers should speak with clarity and brevity. They should make sure their instructions have been understood – and not just bark the words “any questions?” as quickly as possible in a way designed to deter further questioning.
I have no doubt that Prince Harry has become a serious and professional young officer, especially after seeing active service in Afghanistan. But this short video clip will cause him and the army profound embarrassment.
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