All for Grannie. As Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren held a special vigil ahead of her state funeral, Prince HarryDespite initial back-and forth rulings, he was able to wear the military dress uniform.
38-year-old Duke of Sussex marched behind his older brother Prince WilliamThey entered Westminster Hall on Saturday September 17. The twosome both wore military ensembles as they took their places on opposite ends of the queen’s casket. Their cousins were there to join Harry and Prince of Wales, both 40. Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall (née Phillips),Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor James, Viscount Severn. The queen and the late Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren then held a solemn moment of silence for Her Majesty, who died on September 8 at the age of 96.
While William and Harry’s cousins all wore mourning outfits on Saturday, there was previously speculation if Harry would also wear a black suit or his military uniform. After the Archewell cofounders and wives Meghan MarkleHarry was removed from his honorary military titles after he and his senior royals roles were ended in 2020.
Harry — who served in the British military for 10 years — had been barred from wearing his uniform to the Westminster Hall procession on Wednesday, September 14, like his uncle Prince Andrew. (The Duke of York, aged 62, had retired from public duties in 2019 following being accused of sexual assault. The matter was settled out of court. Andrew was later stripped off his royal titles. Eagle-eyed royal viewers also noticed that Harry did not salute his grandmother’s casket during the march, whereas his father, King Charles IIIWilliam and other family members did.
Andrew was allowed to wear a military outfit only to pay respects to his mother on Friday, September 16. Andrew, the 73 year-old king Princess Anne Prince Edward all wore uniforms as they took a shift around their late mother’s coffin.
Andrew made an exception, but the BetterUp CIO was still unable wear his uniform.
“He has come to terms with not wearing uniform on these occasions,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly At the time. “Whilst that’s disappointing in some senses, he’s just grateful to be present and honoring the queen. At the end of the day, it’s only a uniform.”
Buckingham Palace, however, had a change-of-heart and allowed Harry the uniform just days before the Saturday vigil.
The long-reigning sovereign’s coffin has been lying in state at Westminster Hall since Wednesday, where it will remain until Monday, September 19. On Monday, members of the British troops and the royal family will walk the casket in a processional to Westminster Abbey for Elizabeth’s state funeral.
Scroll below to see more photos of Harry wearing his uniform at the grandchildren’s vigil:
