Prince Harry served for close to a decade in the British armed forces, but since he stepped down from his royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry is considered a non-working royal. Because of this, he cannot wear his military uniform and is not permitted to salute as other working members of the royal family did.
Harry, who served for 10 years in the Army and did two tours in Afghanistan, was not permitted to wear his uniform to the Queen's funeral last year and instead wore a black suit. That decision was said to be because he was not a working member of the Royal family.
They are forbidden from wearing military uniforms since two of the Queen's close relatives served in the military during a fight.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter. Prince Harry “has not been permitted to wear his military uniform” to his father King Charles III's coronation despite serving 10 years in the army, according to a new report.
Harry's military uniform was decorated with Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilee medals and the Army Pilot Wings along with his Afghan medal. The ER initials, though, were removed from his shoulders, which left the prince heartbroken.
They no longer go by the HRH titles, but have maintained their use of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex name.
After all, Harry—who served in the British Army for 10 years and undertook two operational tours of Afghanistan—was not allowed to wear his military uniform to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral last September for the same reason.
Buckingham Palace Allows Prince Harry to Wear Military Uniform to the Queen's Vigil. The uniform is reserved for working members of the royal family. Royal higher-ups have changed their minds and are now allowing Prince Harry to wear a military uniform to his grandmother's final vigil after all.
The Duke of Sussex served in the Army for a decade and did two tours of Afghanistan but will not be allowed to adorn the military uniform because he is no longer a working Royal. The same rules applied when Charles' youngest son and Prince Andrew wore morning suits for the Elizabeth II's funeral last September.
Only working royals – which Harry and Andrew are not – are being permitted to dress in uniform at five ceremonial occasions. Harry was however given special permission to wear his military uniform for a lying-in-state vigil ahead of the Queen's funeral.
Why does Princess Anne wear a uniform? Princess Anne, 72, is usually decked out in full military uniform at important royal events, but curiously, she's never been in the military. Instead, the reason she is allowed to wear a military uniform, is that she has several honours and titles.
Post-military service
In 2021, Harry described his 10 years (2005–2015) in the army as "the happiest times in my life". Since leaving the army, he has been closely involved with the armed forces through the Invictus Games, honorary military appointments and other official engagements.
However, he will be wearing civilian clothes during today's funeral because he is no longer classified as a working royal. According to protocol, only active and working royals may be permitted to wear their military uniform at the Queen's funeral.
Here, we look back at Harry's military service. Prince Harry served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two tours of Afghanistan.
When Harry and his wife, Megan, the Duchess of Sussex, left the U.K. he lost his three honorary military titles — Captain General of the Royal Marines; Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington; and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.
Prince Harry has denied he will ever return to work as a full-time member of the royal family.
Prince Harry was not invited to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after his father was crowned, Sky News understands. On Saturday, the palace confirmed that he would have "no formal role" at the King's coronation.
Did Prince Harry serve in the military? The Duke of Sussex served in the Army for ten years, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan. The father of two rose to the rank of Captain at the peak of his military career which began in 2004.
For Elizabeth's final vigil, however, Harry was granted permission to wear his uniform. He had previously been barred from wearing it for the procession to Westminster Hall. Harry later addressed the decision via a statement: “[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother.
The Duke of York is also not allowed to wear military uniform at the Queen's funeral - although he will be able to on the final day of her lying in state at Westminster Hall. Prince Andrew saw active service as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War.
The Duke of Sussex was stripped of his military titles after giving up life as a working royal and moving to the United States with his wife, Meghan.
However, due to his status as a non-working member of the royal family, the Duke of Sussex was without military uniform at the service. "Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother," a spokesperson for Harry told E! News on Sept.
King Charles III gives Prince Harry special permission to wear military uniform.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lived in the US since stepping down as working royals, in 2020. Prince Harry and Meghan no longer receive money from the Royal Family and have a series of commercial arrangements with a number of companies.
Royal Inheritance
Representatives told Forbes in 2021 that Harry was not a beneficiary of any of the $100 million left to the royal family by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.