Prince Harry served for close to a decade in the British armed forces, but since he stepped down from his royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry is considered a non-working royal. Because of this, he cannot wear his military uniform and is not permitted to salute as other working members of the royal family did.
According to People, only royals that are “working members of royal family who hold military rank” were permitted to wear their uniforms at the funeral. Prince Harry was stripped of his military titles after leaving the royal family and moving to the United States, per The Guardian.
Because Andrew, 62, and Harry, 38, are no longer senior working royals, the princes wore dark suits to join the procession. Peter Phillips, who walked beside his cousin Prince Harry, also wore a suit as he does not hold any military ranks.
Only working royals – which Harry and Andrew are not – are being permitted to dress in uniform at five ceremonial occasions. Harry was however given special permission to wear his military uniform for a lying-in-state vigil ahead of the Queen's funeral.
Following the couple's decision, Harry was stripped of his honorary military titles. The duke's status as a non-working member of the royal family also meant that he was initially not permitted to wear his military uniform during the September funeral proceedings for Queen Elizabeth II.
However, Andrew and Harry were permitted to wear their uniforms as a “special mark of respect for the Queen at the final vigil,” according to King Charles. The vigil took place on Saturday, September 17, 2022.
But when it came time to appear behind the Queen's coffin during her funeral procession, Prince William was given the right to wear a military uniform but Prince Harry was not.
For Prince Harry, Afghanistan was likely very similar as it was for other troops. Both Harry and the Royal Family were insistent that he receive no special treatment. Harry served two tours in Afghanistan that began in secret.
Why does Princess Anne wear a uniform? Princess Anne, 72, is usually decked out in full military uniform at important royal events, but curiously, she's never been in the military. Instead, the reason she is allowed to wear a military uniform, is that she has several honours and titles.
Prince Harry didn't salute alongside other family members at the Queen's funeral. King Charles III, his siblings, and Prince William saluted during a procession ahead of the service. Harry wasn't able to salute because he was stripped of his military titles.
Other times, royals collect military ranks and uniforms as honorifics. Princess Anne didn't serve in the military, but she can wear military trousers because she is an honorary rear admiral. In addition to his earned military ranks, Prince Charles is the honorary colonel in chief of 17 regiments of the armed services.
Kate, Princess of Wales, is Colonel of the Irish Guards, having been awarded the military rank in 2022 by King Charles III. The king is about to celebrate his first Trooping the Colour ceremony, but despite her rank in his Armed Forces, Kate is "not expected" to wear a military uniform, according to a source.
Anne was made a Rear Admiral in 1993 and was promoted to Vice Admiral in 2009 before becoming an Admiral in 2012. So, although symbolic, she does hold a rank in the UK's Navy.
Harry had grabbed a pistol and was ready to fight but was taken to a fortified safe room on the base during the three-hour suicide bombing mission. The SAS guarded Harry through the night, primed to take on the Taliban fighters who have vowed to kill him.
Post-military service
In 2021, Harry described his 10 years (2005–2015) in the army as "the happiest times in my life". Since leaving the army, he has been closely involved with the armed forces through the Invictus Games, honorary military appointments and other official engagements.
He had a good war, fulfilling his duties diligently and not seeking any special treatment for his royal status. Along with a few colleagues, I had come across Harry in Helmand. His deployment was meant to be kept secret in a deal between the palace and the British media.
However, the King did give his personal permission for both the Duke and his uncle, Prince Andrew, to wear military uniform “as a special mark of respect” at the final vigil for the late Queen at Westminster Hall ahead of the funeral service.
Buckingham Palace stated that they should therefore not be permitted to wear uniform during the ceremonial events marking the Queen, including the funeral. However, Prince Andrew was granted the right to wear military dress at Friday's vigil as a “special mark of respect” for Elizabeth II.
Prince Edward did not serve in the military but spent a short time as a Royal Marines officer cadet after leaving university in the 1980s. The Prince of Wales wore the RAF No 1 uniform with the Garter Sash with RAF Pilot Wings and the Garter Star Chest Order. He also wore the Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals.
Unlike in the U.S., where veterans often wear uniforms for special occasions, retired British military personnel are not allowed to wear uniforms unless they are in an honorary appointment and had been authorized to wear one. Instead, they wear their military medals pinned to civilian clothes.
Another reason Harry wasn't wearing a military uniform is related to his decision to step away from royal duties two years ago. As such, he was stripped of several honorary military titles, including Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Captain-General of the Royal Marines.
After the royal titles of king, queen, prince, and princess come the five noble ranks: duke and duchess (the members of nobility that rank right below the monarch), marquess and marchioness, earl and countess, viscount and viscountess, and baron and baroness.
Prince William holds the rank of Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. In April 2008, the Prince received his RAF wings from his father The Prince of Wales at RAF Cranwell after completing an intensive 12 week flying course.
Prince Edward is the Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Guards. In 2007, the new Duke of Edinburgh became Royal Colonel of 2nd Battalion The Rifles following the reorganisation of the Infantry.
"You never see a royal without their nude stockings," Arbiter previously told Insider. "I would say that's really the only hard, steadfast rule in terms of what the Queen requires." Meier added that British royals typically follow that guideline while "performing their royal duties in their professional roles."