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Harrods bans soldiers on Poppy Day
Last updated at 22:37pm on 18.11.06
A serving Army officer was banned from entering Harrods on Remembrance Day in case his uniform upset other shoppers.
Lieutenant Daniel Lenherr had just taken part in a parade honouring Britain's war dead when the London department store turned him away at the door.
The security guard told him other customers might be intimidated by the uniform.
The 26-year-old soldier, who serves in the 1st regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery, had been at commemorations in Hyde Park Corner last weekend when he decided to visit the shop with his wife Michelle and their one-year-old son.
Mrs Lenherr, who lives in Tidworth, Hampshire, said: "We were horrified when we were refused entry on a day when we honoured the men who sacrificed so much for our freedom. I find it sad this can happen."
The store has stood by their dress policy, saying: "There is a long-standing tradition at Harrods that would normally preclude customers who are wearing non-civilian attire from entering the store.
"A lot of people assume that somebody in uniform is either there on official duty, which could cause them alarm, or they assume they're a member of staff and ask them where the lavatories are and so on."
But the shop came under fire for its ban.
Shadow Defence Minister Mark Harper said: "It's an outrageous slap in the face to our Armed Forces who are serving our country around the world. On Remembrance Sunday it's even more of an insult. I cannot see any legitimate reason for a shop not to let in members of the Armed Forces in uniform."
And Thomas Carter MBE, a former Warrant Officer in the Royal Horse Artillery, said Mr Lenherr had been treated disgracefully.
The 78-year-old said: "Harrods' policy is a load of rubbish. It treats members of the Armed Forces as sixth-rate citizens. It definitely makes it worse that it was on Remembrance Sunday, as that's the day everybody wears uniform."
Rival department stores Selfridges and Harvey Nichols said they had no problem with service personnel entering their stores in uniform.
Reader views (6)
M. A-F as a non British citizen has no obligation to show patriotism to a country which has refused him a passport. He makes the rules for his establishment. Im sure had the soldier been refused entry to McDonalds, there wouldn't have been such an outcry..
- G. Tamerji, Ireland
I can understand a store/shop having rules and regulations they are needed but one only has to look at the rule concerning dogs entering shops and resturants to realise that exceptions can be made for example, guide dogs.
Perhaps the board would like to look at this again and reconsider their position, this sort of publicity is very harmful.
Let us hope that the board or M A-F will read and consider these comments and be more flexible.
It would be sad if the public voted with their feet and their purses!
- Melvyn Johnson, peterborough england
This is very sad. I love Harrods , the service you get and the staff attitudes are second to none.
I also think our military services particularly the Army should receive not just our patronizing support but admiration, thanks, recognition and pride that they give us a feeling of security that our police have lost. They fullfill their duty to the elected goverment whatever they or we feel and where ever that duty may lead, never being politicaly motivated. It is illegal I thought to discriminate against anyone this should be particularly so against any uniformed serviceman . If you did this in any middle east country showing such lack of respect and patriottism to your that country you would find yourself in difficulties. I hope this was just a one off misguided act but it requires a possitive and public act of contrtion by the store.
- Alan W O'Leary, Braintree ESSEX
And this man (M. A-F) wants a British passport? He's demonstrated yet another reason for denying him.
- Bryan Hughes, Windsor
It's simple. Don't spend your money there until policy is changed.
- Paul, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A. formerly of Rutland, England
Disgusting. Can anyone extract an apology and a change of policy from Harrods?
- T J Franklin, Boncath Wales
