Prince Harrywill not be wearing his military uniform to the upcoming funeral ofQueen Elizabeth.
The spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex, 37, tells PEOPLE in a statement that he “will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother.”
Prince Harry, who served in the British Army for 10 years and was deployed to Afghanistan twice,lost his three honorary military titles(Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command) after he and wifeMeghan Marklestepped back from their senior royal roles in March 2020.
Buckingham Palace confirmed Monday that at the five major ceremonial events leading up to and includingthe Queen’s state funeral, only working members of the royal family who hold military rank will wear military uniforms.
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Prince Harry (L); Queen Elizabeth.Karwai Tang/WireImage; Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty
WhileKing Charles III,Prince William,Princess AnneandPrince Edwardare expected to step out in traditional regalia for the mourning events, the Queen’s sonPrince Andrewand grandson Harry will not, as they are no longer senior working royals.
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Prince Harry and Prince William.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
Though Andrew, 62, will be seen in suits for the remainder of the lead-up ceremonies, a special exception has been made for him to wear a military uniform at the final vigil as a sign of respect for his mother and monarch,who “peacefully” died at age 96on Thursday.
The decision on uniforms differs fromPrince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle in April 2021, when Buckingham Palace announced thatno senior royal family members would wear traditional military uniforms.
However,Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will differ from her husband’s as Philip’s service was scaled back to a ceremonial royal funeral — not a state funeral — due to COVID-19 concerns.
The service was in line with England’s COVID guidance at the time, capped toa 30-person limit of close family and friends.
“Ironically, it is probably how he would have liked,” former palace spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE of what Philip would have thought of how it all panned out. “No fuss, no bother. Right through his life, he never knew what all the fuss was about.”
source: people.com
