It’s been more than two years sincePrince HarryAnd Meghan MarkleThey chose to resign from their roles as senior members of royal family. This resulted in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex losing their royal patronages.
In February 2021, news broke that Harry had officially returned the titles Captain General Royal Marines and Honorary Air Commandant to RAF Honington and Commodore in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving to Queen Elizabeth II.
“Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family,” the palace said at the time, confirming that there was a “12-month review” following Harry and Meghan’s initial step back.
According to royal authors Carolyn DurAnd and Omid Scobie, “the most demoralizing aspect” of Harry and Meghan’s new deal with the queen was “his being stripped of his honorary military appointments that had been awarded to him as a senior royal.”
“As a retired serviceman, Harry would always be able to wear his medals, but no longer could he wear uniform as Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy’s Small Ships and Diving Operations,” they wrote in their book Finding Freedom. “[It’s been]It was a hard pill to swallow, and one Meghan has seen him suffer through the most. It’s the one that made Harry emotional.”
British royal family dress code rules stipulate that all working members of the royal household who served in the Armed Forces must wear uniforms for military affairs, including the Trooping the Colour and Remembr Sunday as well as state funerals.
Harry, who had served 10 years in British Army, decided to step back from his duties for the queen. Prince William and other working members of the royal family during Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour celebration in June 2022.
Three months later, Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022, was confirmed by the palace Prince Andrew — who was stripped of his titles in January 2022 two years after he was accused of sexual assault — was granted permission to wear his military uniform for one event, the late monarch’s final vigil, “as a special mark of respect.” (He was not given permission to wear his uniform for other funeral events alongside his siblings.) After the news broke that Harry had not been granted the same exception royal experts had differing opinions.
Christopher AndersenFor his part, he exclusively told Us Weekly that the decision was “to be expected” even though it’s a “very sensitive” topic.
“It was [what] the queen wanted,” he said of Harry being stripped of his honorary titles. “And I think Charles wanted to make sure that those wishes were fulfilled.”
Commentator Shola Moss-Shogbamimu, meanwhile, told Newsweek that the double standards were “deplorable.”
“Prince Harry served with distinction. He was a distinguished soldier in the army, rising through the ranks. He was a part of two tours to Afghanistan. He continues to work with veterans and promotes the support of wounded men and women. He also founded the Invictus Games [a sporting event for wounded servicemen and women]. If there was anyone between the both of them who has the right to wear a uniform, then it’s Prince Harry,” Mos-Shogbamimu said. “I’m thinking about Charles. Hasn’t he learned a thing or two about the backlash that the queen got about the way she protected Prince Andrew?”
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