Prince Harry confirms he will not wear military uniform at any event to mourn the Queen

Prince Harry has responded to reports that he will be barred from wearing a uniform while mourning the Queen.

Prince Harry has responded to reports that he has been barred from wearing a ceremonial military uniform during events to mourn the Queen, while scandal prone Prince Andrew was given an exception to allow him to don military garb.

Both princes have served in the military – Harry, Duke of Sussex, in Afghanistan and Andrew, Duke of York, in the Falkland Islands.

However, a Buckingham Palace edict stipulated that only working royals would be allowed to wear military uniforms at events to mark the Queen’s passing. Neither of the dukes are working royals.

These events include the coffin’s procession to Westminster Hall in central London, the vigil at the lying in state, the funeral in Westminster Abbey and the committal service in Windsor.

On Monday, the Duke of York joined King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward in the procession of the Queen’s coffin through the streets of Edinburgh.

While Charles, Anne and Edward wore ceremonial outfits, Andrew – in line with the edict – instead donned a suit.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex view flowers and tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth in Windsor, England. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Harry’s statement

But it has emerged that Andrew, who stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, will be allowed to wear his uniform at Wednesday’s vigil in Westminster.

Harry was reportedly given no such exception.

US TV network CNN today reported that the prince had issued a statement over the clothing controversy.

“Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother,” a spokesman for the Sussex’s told CNN.

“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.”

When the Queen Mother died in 2002, Prince Andrew wore a military uniform during the procession in Westminster. Picture: Paul McErlane / POOL WPA / AFP

This week in Edinburgh, Andrew did not wear his military uniform. But he will be allowed to a the vigil in London. Picture: Phil Noble / AFP

Andrew can wear military uniform – for one event

In January, Andrew was stripped of his military affiliations and patronages after he lost an attempt to stop a sex abuse lawsuit brought by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. That lawsuit has since been settled. The prince has denied the accusations.

However he retained his service rank as a vice admiral. It’s expected he will wear the corresponding uniform at Wednesday’s vigil.

Royal sources have told numerous media outlets that the exception for that one event is out of a “special mark of respect for the Queen”.

But it’s not a mark of respect that appears to have included Prince Harry despite him reaching the rank of Captain.

Royal commentator and confidante of the Sussexes Omid Scobie remarked on the juxtaposition on uniform rules between Andrew and Harry.

“No doubt a huge blow for the Duke of Sussex, who served for 10 years and this morning spoke of the Queen being his ‘’commander-in-chief’”.

Prince Harry wearing his Sandhurst army uniform on the balcony in Buckingham Palace in 2005. Picture: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

It is likely to leave a bitter taste for ex-soldier Harry, who is proud of his decade in the forces, and who was saddened after being stripped of his honorary military roles including Captain General of the Royal Marines by the Queen after the Sussex’s retreated overseas.

Both Prince Harry and Prince Andrew will be out of uniform for the Queen’s funeral on Monday.

On Monday, he wrote of his special memories of when the Queen attended his passing out parade in 2006 when he became an officer in the British Army.

Prince Harry has confirmed he will be in civilian clothing for events to mark the Queen’s passing. Picture: Kirsty O'Connor / AFP

He told of his “first meeting” with his Granny as “my Commander-in-Chief” – and was believed to be referring to the occasion when the late monarch made him grin and blush while she reviewed the cadets.

At the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April 2021, the dress issue was dealt with by the Queen who decided that no members of the royal family should wear uniform, reported The Sun.

It was a break with tradition but seen as the most eloquent solution to the problem.

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 appearance on the BBC’s Newsnight program where, among other things, he said he was unable to sweat.