Holton's later promotion on the retired list opens a wider point about the British honours system. Claims about who may wear a rank, decoration, or uniform depend on the precise appointment or award, the authority that granted it, and the terms attached to it. That institutional detail matters when evaluating accusations of stolen valour. Members of the royal family, for example, may wear insignia connected to an honorary appointment such as colonel of a regiment. The passage encourages readers to verify the formal basis for an honorary status before judging what it authorises.
Notable Point · 32:56-34:23
How British honorary ranks affect uniform claims
A tangent on retired promotion and honorary appointments explains why rank, decorations, and uniform entitlement require checking the exact grant.