Prince Harry will wear his military uniform on Saturday in a special tribute to the Queen, The Mirror can reveal.
The Duke of Sussex has been given special permission to don his military colours for a lying-in-state vigil staged by Her Majesty’s grandchildren at Westminster Hall.
The Queen’s eight grandchildren, including Harry and his brother Prince William, will stand on Saturday evening in silence for a 15 minute vigil alongside Her Majesty’s coffin.
Palace officials are understood to have intervened after it emerged his disgraced uncle Prince Andrew, also no longer a working royal, had been given special permission to wear his uniform at a vigil over the Queen’s coffin attended on Friday by her four children, despite being banned at earlier ceremonial events.
A royal source said: “Common sense has prevailed.
“It was a ludicrous situation given the Duke of Sussex has served his country and is a highly respected member of the armed forces with everything he has done for veterans.
"It is important that the Queen's grandchildren are all made to feel welcome and comfortable as they grieve their beloved grandmother together."
The Queen's other grandchildren including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Peter Philips and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn are also understood to form part of the guard of honour tomorrow evening.
Harry, who served in the British army for a decade including two tours of Afghanistan, had this week been at the centre of a row over whether he would be allowed to wear his Blues and Royals uniform.
After quitting his royal role in 2020 he was unceremoniously stripped of his cherished military appointments and banned from wearing his military uniforms in public.
On Tuesday, Prince Harry, who served two front line tours of duty in Afghanistan, addressed the rule barring him from wearing his military uniform in a statement released through his spokesperson.
He confirmed he would be wearing a morning suit and asked that the “focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”.
A spokesperson for the duke: “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.”
On Wednesday, as the King led his sons and other members of the royal family in a procession of the Queen’s coffin through the streets of London in her final departure from Buckingham Palace.
But Harry was compelled to wear morning dress while the monarch, his brother the Prince of Wales and other close relatives were all in military uniform adorned with medals.
A royal source said: “This is purely as a mark of respect for the Duke’s late grandmother, who wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“Her Majesty always stood for harmony and unity and this is a just decision.”
