Prince Philip: ‘No uniform’ rule for funeral spares Harry’s blushes

Queen rules no military uniforms worn at Philip’s funeral after Harry was obliged to give up honorary military appointments.

The Queen has spared the Duke of Sussex embarrassment by ruling that no military uniforms should be worn at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Harry would have been the only senior male in the royal family not to wear military uniform after he was obliged to give up his honorary military appointments. The Duke of York was also at the centre of a row about whether he should be allowed to wear an admiral’s uniform to the funeral.

The Queen is now said to have stepped in to suggest that all senior royal males wear civilian dress. A military source told The Sun: “It’s the most eloquent solution to the problem.” Another source confirmed that “current thinking is no uniforms”.

The Times understands that Prince Andrew decided not to insist that he be allowed to wear an admiral’s uniform to the funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, even though he had already asked tailors to start making it.

Princes Andrew, Charles, Harry and William in uniform on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2018. Picture: AFP.

Andrew, 61, who stepped down from public duties in 2019 after the furore over his Newsnight interview about the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, ruffled feathers at Buckingham Palace by raising questions about what uniform he was entitled to wear, the Daily Mail reported.

Andrew was made an honorary vice-admiral in the Royal Navy on his 55th birthday in 2015. He was due to be promoted to admiral on his 60th birthday last year but offered to defer it until he had cleared his name and returned to public duties.

He had gone so far as to ask his tailors to start making a new uniform, The Times has been told. “Nobody feels it is the right thing to do,” a source said.

A source close to the duke said: “The Duke of York is very keenly aware of Saturday’s funeral being a moment for the Duke of Edinburgh, HM and the nation. He has neither wish nor intention to distract from that. Speculation on what he may or may not wear is just that, speculation, and no matters of this nature have yet been decided upon. The Duke of York will do what is appropriate to the circumstances - he remains stepped back from royal duties.”

The internal debate over Andrew’s uniform highlighted the discrepancy between Harry, 36, who was obliged to give up his military appointments after stepping down from royal duties, and his uncle, who despite being forced to stand down from public life and losing his patronages, was allowed to hang on to his military appointments.

On previous formal occasions, including his wedding, Harry has worn the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, his old army regiment.

However since relinquishing his military appointments, including that of captain general of the Royal Marines, he has the same status as any other non-serving former member of the armed forces.

Another family drama risks overshadowing the preparations for the funeral: the rift between Harry and the Duke of Cambridge. The difficult relationship was made worse by Harry’s claim in his Oprah Winfrey interview last month that his brother and father were “trapped” by their roles.

One royal source said the family hoped that the funeral would pass off “with dignity” and not “be overshadowed by any sideshows”.

Although the weekend might not solve all the family’s problems, it is hoped that a show of unity may help bring them together. The source said: “Everybody sees it as an opportunity to reconnect. One would hope that this would be a positive first step.”

Andrew’s behaviour was seen in some quarters as the result of his higher public profile this week after he spoke about how Prince Philip’s death had left a “huge void” in the Queen’s life. His critics believe he is trying to capitalise on what he sees as the public’s sympathy for him following his father’s death.

However one source close to Andrew said he would regard it as not “respectful” to use Philip’s death to improve his public standing.

Andrew joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and served in the Falklands War as a helicopter pilot. He finished his active naval career in 2001.

The navy established a policy in 2009 that means the prince is promoted in line with his still-serving peers to mark his continued contribution to the service. He became a rear admiral on his 50th birthday, a vice-admiral on his 55th, and had been due to become an admiral on his 60th last year before forgoing the promotion.

An admiral’s ceremonial day coat has three rows of lace on the sleeve, but a vice-admiral’s two rows. The admiral’s shoulder rank board features a crossed baton and sword with four stars, but for a vice-admiral there are just three stars.

The Times