Prince Harry set to be given exemption to wear military uniform for Queen Elizabeth II vigil

Prince Harry set to be given exemption to wear military uniform for Queen Elizabeth II vigil
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Aden-Jay Wood

By Aden-Jay Wood


Published: 15/09/2022

- 21:19

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:39

Harry had been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourned because he is no longer a working royal

Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren are expected to honour her memory by holding a vigil at her coffin – with the Duke of Sussex wearing his military uniform.

Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, had been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourned as he is no longer a working royal.


Despite being a former Army officer he has been in civilian dress for official events, including walking behind his grandmother’s coffin on Wednesday when it was carried to Westminster Hall to lie in state.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Westminster Hall, London after the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was brought to the hall to lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. Picture date: Wednesday September 14, 2022. PA Photo.  Danny Lawson/Pool via REUTERS
Prince Harry
POOL

The Duke of Sussex is set to wear his military uniform for a vigil on Saturday
The Duke of Sussex is set to wear his military uniform for a vigil on Saturday
Kirsty O'Connor

But Palace officials have reportedly had a change of heart, with a source telling the Mirror: “common sense has prevailed”.

Harry is expected to join his brother the Prince of Wales and cousins Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall in mounting a vigil around the Queen’s coffin on Saturday.

An exception has been made for the Duke of York, who is no longer a working royal but will wear his military uniform as a “special mark of respect” for Queen Elizabeth II when he stands guard around her coffin during a vigil with his siblings on Friday evening.

On Monday, Harry wrote of his special memories of Queen Elizabeth II attending his passing-out parade in 2006 when he became an officer in the British Army.

He told of his “first meeting” with his grandmother as “my Commander-in-Chief”, and is believed to have been referring to the occasion when she made him grin and blush when she reviewed the cadets.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.

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