The Duke of Sussex’s press
secretary confirmed that he will wear a morning suit since “‘his
decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears”.
Earlier in the week, a
spokesperson for Buckingham Palace confirmed that only working members of the
royal family would be allowed to wear military uniforms when present at
ceremonial events during the mourning period for the late monarch.
These include the Service of
Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, the procession to
Westminster Hall and service of prayer and reflection, the Vigil at Westminster
Hall, the state funeral at Westminster Abbey, and the Committal Service at St
George’s Chapel Windsor.
Having stepped down as a
senior royal, the Duke of Sussex was denied the chance to don his military uniform.
Harry and Meghan made the decision back in January 2020 and announced the news
via social media.
Royal Editor Omid Scobie
described the Palace’s decision as a “huge blow for the Duke of
Sussex, who served for ten years… and spoked of the Queen being his
‘commander-in-chief'”.
Despite also being a
non-working member of the royal family, the Duke of York was spotted
in military uniform at Westminster Hall as a special mark of respect.
The late monarch’s second
son stepped down from his royal duties in 2019 owing to his
friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. A royal source said that it was a
“personal decision by the Duke,” adding: “He discussed with the
Queen and the Prince of Wales and other members of the family, but it was a
personal decision.”
Ahead of his legal settlement,
his mother the Queen stripped him of all of his honorary military roles,
including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and he gave up his HRH style.
