Prince Harry has opened up about not wearing his military uniform for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.
On Monday (September 12), it was revealed that Prince Harry would not be allowed to wear a uniform during the Queen’s funeral, even though Prince Andrew – who is also not a working royal – will be allowed to do so at the vigil for when the Queen’s body will be lying in state.
And now, a spokesperson for the Sussexes has released a statement on the matter.
They said: “[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother.
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"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."
Prince Andrew will be allowed to wear a uniform as a ‘mark of respect’ for his mother.
Only working royals have the permission to dress in uniform for the five key ceremonial occasions – the funeral and the vigil being two of them.
Harry, who was on the frontline during two tours in Afghanistan, is not a working royal anymore, and therefore will be dressed as a civilian on the day.
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Harry officially stepped down as a senior royal with wife Meghan Markle in 2020.
When the Duke of Edinburgh died in 2021, the Queen decided that no one would be wearing a uniform for any of the ceremonies, which seemed like a solution to a host of logistical problems.
On September 8, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which means that the monarchy has now been passed down to King Charles III.
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She was the longest reigning monarch in the history of the crown.
Prince Harry recently released a statement after the passing of his grandmother, thanking her for her ‘commitment to service’ and including some heartfelt moments about her.
"Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings - from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander in Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren," Harry said.
"I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between.
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"You are sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III."
Featured Image Credit: Tophat and Tales / Alamy Stock Photo Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo / Alamy Stock PhotoTopics: Royal Family, Prince Harry