Prince Harry and Prince Andrew were among the only key male members of the royal family who didn’t wear military uniforms to the Queen’s Funeral on Monday, as they were forbidden to do so.
The two princes arrived at Westminster Abbey in black suits, joining King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Peter Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cornwall, Peter Phillips, Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they walked behind the Queen’s coffin.
King Charles III, his siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, and his son Prince William all donned official military attire for the solemn occasion.
The royal family walk behind The Queen’s coffin.
(Image: Getty)It’s common for senior royals to wear military uniforms to major royal funerals, as seen in 2002 when Charles, Prince Philip, Andrew and Anne all wore military attire to the funeral of the Queen Mother.
The tradition was not observed for Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021, however an occasion as monumental as the death of the queen calls for a return to the tradition.
But Harry and Andrew were both barred from wearing military dress ahead of time, as per royal protocol put forth by the new king.
Charles, Philip, Andrew and Anne all wore military attire to the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002.
(Image: Getty)It was reported soon after the Queen’s September 8 death that working royals would be expected wear military uniforms during formal events held within the period of mourning set out by King Charles.
However, as neither Harry nor Andrew are working royals anymore, they were both excluded from the rule and thereby not allowed to dress in their old uniforms.
Both men were stripped of their honourary military titles in recent years; Andrew in 2019, following his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, and Harry in 2020 after his royal exit.
Harry has not been seen in military uniform since and a spokesperson for the prince announced he would wear a mourning suit to the funeral ahead of time.
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“[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother,” a representative was quoted as saying last week.
“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.”
Rumours that Andrew, despite being stripped of his military titles, would wear a uniform to official mourning events were also debunked before the funeral.
He was the odd sibling out when he accompanied King Charles to attend a Vigil for the Queen at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on September 12, as Anne and Edward both wore military dress.
Prince Andrew wore a black suit while siblings Anne and Edward both wore military dress at the Vigil.
(Image: Getty)Want to know more about Queen Elizabeth II’s life and legacy? Read the articles below
The sentimental meaning behind The Queen’s final portrait
Queen Elizabeth II’s life in pictures
How many great-grandchildren did The Queen have?
Who will inherit The Queen’s jewellery?
What you never know about The Queen and Prince Philip
The Queen’s relationship with Princess Diana
What happens now that The Queen has died?
How has the line of succession changed after The Queen’s death?
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