Prince Harry was banned from wearing his military uniform at the Queen’s funeral and other related events, it has been confirmed.
The Duke of Sussex, who served two tours in Afghanistan, was prohibited by King Charles III, his father, from donning his military outfit in the upcoming events honoring the late monarch after Harry’s decision to quit his life as a working royal.
Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that Prince Andrew, the disgraced Duke of York, will be allowed to wear his uniform at the Queen’s state funeral which will take place at Westminster Hall on September 19.
Following several reports on the matter, Prince Harry spoke out through his spokesperson and asked the people to focus on honoring his late grandmother’s memory rather than on the issue surrounding uniforms.
He also appeared to hit back at the ban saying his service to the country is not to be determined by what he wears.
“Harry will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother,” the spokesperson confirmed.
“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.”
While only working royals were permitted to wear uniforms at five ceremonial occasions – including St Giles’ Cathedral service, the procession to Westminster Hall, the lying in state vigil, the funeral, and the committal service – the Duke of York, who is not a working royal, was allowed to wear his uniform during the Vigil of the Princes.
The row over uniforms comes as a royal expert suggested Charles’ ban was “needless friendly fire” and insisted it wasn’t aligned with what the Queen would have wanted.
“All it has succeeded in doing is give the couple more ammunition for their next salvo against an institution they claim resented their presence from the very beginning,” British journalist and royal expert Camilla Tominey said.
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