The Royal Navy has expanded its mess dress code policy for formal occasions to include ethnic outfits such as the saree to reflect wider forms of the country’s cultural identity.
Lance Corporal Jack Kanani, chair of the Royal Navy’s Race Diversity Network, made the announcement of the update to the dress code as part of the UK Navy’s wider “Cultural Equivalent” initiative.
Lance Corporal Kanani said: “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.
“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 made them feel able to celebrate both their RN and cultural heritage.
“Existing policy (BR3) already allowed for Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Cornish and Manx heritage to be represented through the wearing of kilts and tartan dresses. The update in policy now widens that to be inclusive of other British cultures that serve within the RN.”
His social media post illustrated this change by an honorary female captain wearing a white saree, with a white shirt and bow tie along with her mess jacket (pictured above – centre). The Royal Navy’s Race Diversity Network said Honorary Captain Durdana Ansaree OBE is incorporating Royal Navy “mess dress in totality on the upper half”.
Regulations for the Naval mess dress have above-the-waist rules, 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 traditional outfits such as a saree coupled with their jacket, shirt and bow tie.
