Harry to wear army uniform at vigil, by order of the King

The ruling has been described as a ‘one-off’, after an exception was also made for the disgraced Prince Andrew.

The Duke of Sussex had two tours of Afghanistan. Picture: Max Mumby/Getty Images/The Times

The Duke of Sussex will wear military uniform for the grandchildren’s vigil over the Queen’s coffin because it is what his father wanted, royal sources have said.

The duke will take part in a vigil by all eight of the Queen’s grandchildren at Westminster Hall tonight. It follows last night’s vigil by Queen Elizabeth’s children: the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.

When the Queen’s coffin was borne in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall Prince Harry, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, wore a morning suit as he walked behind the coffin with his brother, the Prince of Wales.

Buckingham Palace said the decision that he should not wear uniform was because he was no longer a working member of the royal family.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York was allowed to wear his military uniform when he stood guard with King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. Picture: Hannah Mckay/WPA Pool/Getty Images

An exception was made for the disgraced Duke of York, who is also no longer a working royal but was allowed to wear his military uniform as a “special mark of respect” for the Queen when he stood guard around her coffin during last night’s (Friday’s) vigil.

However, the King has now granted his son special permission to appear in uniform when the eight grandchildren pay their respects for 15 minutes at Westminster Hall, where the Queen lies in state.

The ruling is understood to be a mark of respect for her and has been described as a “one-off” decision as opposed to a U-turn. A source said: “The grandchildren, at the King’s invitation, are very keen to pay their respects – just as their parents are doing the evening before.”

The Prince of Wales will stand at the head of the coffin while the Duke of Sussex stands at the foot. “At the King’s request, they will both be in uniform,” the source said. The other grandchildren will be in morning coat and dark formal dress with decorations.

Prince William will be flanked by Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, while Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will stand either side of Prince Harry. Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn will stand at the middle of the coffin.

It is understood that because the King allowed the Duke of York to wear uniform, it made sense to allow the Duke of Sussex to wear uniform tonight (Saturday). It would be the last time that Prince Harry would have an opportunity to pay his respects to his grandmother, and as a mark of respect to the late Queen it “felt right” that he should be in uniform.

Prince Harry chats to Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony, 2013. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Harry had not made any representations on the subject: as his spokesman said this week, he was happy to mark the moment in whatever dress was being asked of him.

Although the King’s decision to allow Prince Harry to wear uniform at the vigil – but not the funeral itself – is a conciliatory gesture, the underlying tensions within the family continue. Reports have suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are upset that their children will not be granted HRH status, though they are to be made a prince and princess by the King.

It also looks unlikely that the Sussexes will attend the reception hosted by the King at Buckingham Palace on Sunday night for world leaders and foreign royalty.

One of the largest official state receptions in memory, it will also be attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

However, despite a suggestion on Twitter from Harry and Meghan’s biographer Omid Scobie that the Sussexes would be there, a royal source insisted that it was for working members of the royal family only.

The Times