Prince Harry has reportedly broken his silence on why he won't be wearing his military uniform for the Queen's funeral. Yesterday it was reported that Prince Harry was denied the chance to wear military uniform, according to The Mirror, despite his disgraced uncle Prince Andrew being permitted to do so at a lying-in-state vigil.
A Sussex spokesperson said: "[Prince Harry] 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", according to royal commentator and author Omid Scobie.
Prince Harry saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, however will be in civilian dress for official events, including the Queen's state funeral. Harry and Andrew are not working royals - working royals are the only members of the royal family permitted to dress in uniform at five ceremonial occasions.
The five occasions include the St Giles' Cathedral service in Edinburgh where Andrew was already seen wearing a morning suit, the coffin's procession to Westminster Hall, the vigil at the lying in state, the funeral in Westminster Abbey and the committal service in Windsor. However, Prince Andrew will be wearing military uniform for the final vigil around the Queen's coffin during the lying in state in Westminster Hall.
Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and he later had his honorary titles stripped from him, too. However, he is being allowed to wear the uniform as a special mark of respect for his late mother, but not on other occasions.
Prince Harry, whose rank is captain, is likely to be disappointed by the decision after feeling saddened when he was stripped of his own honorary military roles by the Queen, including Captain General of the Royal Marines, following what has since been called 'Megxit'. He and his wife Meghan Markle decided to step back from working royal life in 2020.
At the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021, the issue of uniform was dealt with by the Queen who decided that no members of the Royal Family should wear uniform. It was a break with tradition but seen as the most eloquent solution to a host of problems.
Reports had suggested Andrew was considering wearing the uniform of an admiral. He was due to be promoted to Admiral in 2020 to mark his 60th birthday but this did not go ahead following the fallout from his disastrous Newsnight appearance.
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