Why Prince Harry wore morning suit, not military uniform, to Queen’s funeral
Prince Harry’s military uniform — or lack thereof — has been making headlines since Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, and the questions continued as he attended her funeral today in a morning suit.
Although he was given permission by his father, King Charles III, to wear his Blues and Royals No. 1 dress uniform for a vigil Queen Elizabeth’s eight grandchildren held over the weekend, the 38-year-old arrived at Westminster Hall this morning in a black suit jacket and gray pinstriped trousers.
Adding his various medals to the jacket, the Duke of Sussex walked in the procession to and from Westminster Abbey for his grandmother’s funeral alongside Prince William, who wore his Royal Air Force uniform.
Harry — who was stripped of his military titles when he stepped down as a working member of the royal family in 2020 — wasn’t the only member of the family to dress in a morning suit instead of his military uniform; Prince Andrew was not given permission to wear the official dress to today’s service, either.
While originally the prince was supposed to wear a suit for all of the official events honoring Queen Elizabeth, he was given last-minute permission from King Charles to sport the Blues and Royals military uniform for the vigil.
Previously, the palace announced that such uniforms would only be worn at the funeral by working members of the royal family who hold military rank — and since both the Duke of Sussex and Prince Andrew left royal life, neither fall under that category.
Follow Page Six’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral:
- Harry and Meghan snubbed with seating arrangement at Queen’s funeral
- King Charles leaves touching note on Queen’s casket
- William and Harry ‘trying their best’ to get along while mourning Queen
- Kate Middleton: Prince Louis, 4, is struggling to understand Queen’s death
Prince Harry “was simply prepared to wear whatever his grandmother made plans for,” a source told Page Six last week. “He’s focused on honoring her and that’s it.”
Indeed, the duke released a statement saying, “Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex 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.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — who have been in the UK since early September following previously planned engagements — were seated in the second row for today’s service, behind the King and the Queen Consort, Camilla.
For the funeral, the duchess made a touching tribute by sporting the pearl earrings gifted to her by the Queen in 2018.
The couple walked down the aisle behind Queen Elizabeth’s coffin when the service concluded, with Harry joining the male members of his family for a procession through the streets of London before his grandmother is taken to Windsor Castle for her burial later today.
