Why Prince Harry and Prince Andrew didn’t salute the Queen’s coffin

King Charles led his family — and hundreds of servicemen — in giving Her Majesty one final salute. But some royals didn’t join in.

Billions around the world watched as King Charles led senior members of the Royal Family in following the Queen’s coffin to her funeral at Westminster Abbey.

And as the procession arrived, he led his family — and hundreds of servicemen — in giving Her Majesty one final salute.

But, noticeably, a few people didn’t join in. Among them were Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.

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Prince Harry (and Peter Phillips) don’t join in as everyone else salutes the Queen. Picture: Hannah McKay / POOL / AFP

As they are no longer working royals, the are not allowed to wear military uniform. And as they are not involved with the military, they are not permitted to salute.

Prince Harry served in two tours of Afghanistan, and is particularly proud of his time in the military.

He received the KCVO star and the Operational Service Medal for his time in Afghanistan.

He retains the rank of captain but is no longer Captain General of the Royal Marines after leaving the Royal Family.

The Duke was told he could no longer wear his uniform after deciding to quit as a working royal alongside his wife Meghan Markle.

Prince Andrew was a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War, but was stripped of his military titles as part of the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and his subsequent payout to his accuser Virginia Giuffre.

Prince Andrew also did not salute. Picture: Hannah McKay WPA Pool/Getty Images

Both Harry and Andrew were given exceptional permission to don their military garb during vigils by the Queen’s coffin as she lied in state in Westminster Hall.

But even there, Harry was dealt a fresh blow as he was told he couldn’t bear the initials of the Queen – ER (Elizabeth Regina) – on his shoulders of his Blues and Royals uniform during the solemn tribute.

The initials are only to be worn by people “in service” of the monarch.

The Duke of Sussex was said to be “heartbroken” by this, and his devastation was no doubt compounded by his uncle, Andrew, wearing the cypher during the ceremony.

A friend told the Sunday Times: “He is heartbroken. To remove his grandmother’s initials feels very intentional.”

Initially, Harry was not going to be allowed to wear his military uniform at all, however common sense eventually prevailed and he was allowed to break with protocol for the vigil alongside the Queen’s other seven grandchildren.

Prince Harry was not allowed to bear the Queen's initials on his shoulder during a viglil

Before the U-turn, a Sussex spokesman said: “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.”

Peter Phillips, Princess Anne's son, is not a working royal so joined Harry and Andrew in wearing a mourning suit at the funeral, as did Zara Tindall’s former rugby star husband Mike.

Harry was relegated to the second row at the funeral, sitting alongside Meghan – firectly behind Charles.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were seated in the second row at the funeral.

The front row was occupied by the King, Queen Consort Camilla, Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

William and Kate Middleton sat across the aisle, alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike.

It’s just the latest snub Harry has endured since the Queen’s death.

There were unconfirmed reports that he was only told of her passing five minutes before the public announcement of her death was made.

Harry was also reportedly uninvited from the state reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday night, which was attended by around 500 senior royals, top policitians and diplomats.

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew did not salute, while the rest of the family did so. Picture: Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Harry and Meghan did however put on a united front with William and Kate last weekend as they met wellwishers outside Windsor Castle.

And the feuding brothers spent a short time chatting with each other on Thursday after a chance encounter.

William was on the way back from collecting his children from school when he drove past Harry and Meghan on the Windsor estate, according to the Sunday Times. They are said to have stopped and chatted to each other briefly.

Kate also implicitly referred to Harry and Meghan while chatting to a member of the public while viewing floral tributes left at the royal estate at Sandringham, in Norfolk in the south east of England.

Andrew is no longer a working royal and was stripped of his military titles (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE / POOL / AFP)

She said the Royal Family was “sticking together and sharing each other’s grief and helping each other cope”.

William told another mourner that walking behind the Queen’s coffin as was taken on a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where she is lying in state, had brought back memories of taking part in the procession behind his mother, Princess Diana, after her death in 1997.

“It brought back a few memories. It’s one of those moments when you think: I’ve prepared myself for this, but I’m not prepared.”

Prince Harry still reportedly intends to publish his memoir about life in the Royal Family later this year, with the Palace concerned of any bombshells akin to his and Meghan’s interview with Oprah last year.

Originally published as Why Prince Harry and Prince Andrew didn’t salute the Queen’s coffin