Why Harry didn't end up wearing military outfit to Queen’s funeral
Prince Harry’s uniform has been the subject of heated discussion following the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.
The former working royal first made headlines after he was spotted in a suit during royal events where Prince Andrew was wearing his military uniform.
Despite his father, King Charles III, giving Prince Harry permission to wear his dress uniform at Queen Elizabeth II’s vigil over the weekend, the 38-year-old arrived at Westminster Hall in his morning suit during Monday morning’s service.
The prince added his medals to his black suit jacket which he wore while walking in the procession to and from Westminster Abbey during the funeral.
But he wasn’t the only one not in uniform, after Prince Andrew was also prohibited from wearing official military dress during the service.
The changes to uniform permissions came after the palace announced that only working members of the royal family who hold a rank could wear military uniforms at the funeral, with both Prince Harry and Prince Andrew being excluded from that category after leaving royal life.
A source told Page Six last week that Prince Harry was just “prepared to wear whatever his grandmother made plans for”.
“He’s focused on honouring her and that’s it,” they said.
In a statement, the prince said what he wore wasn’t reflective of his military service.
“Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother. His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
During the funeral, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were seated in the second row behind King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort.
Meghan was spotted wearing a touching tribute to her grandmother-in-law, donning pearl earrings the Queen gave her in 2018.
After the service, the couple walked behind the Queen’s coffin, with Prince Harry joining male family members for a procession through London streets ahead of her burial at Windsor Castle.
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