As it turns out, the medals
At the vigil, the two brothers wore the uniform of the Blues and Royals, displaying medals of their military achievements. These included medals to show their commitment to public service as well as key milestones in Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign.
And it seems the medals aren't military but were instead to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and her Platinum Jubilee this year. The son of Princess Anne and the Queen's eldest grandchild Peter Phillips, 44, wore the same medals, along with the 2002 Golden Jubilee medal.
The King served in the Air Force and Navy from 1971 to 1976. In February 1976, Charles took command of the coastal mine hunter HMS Bronington for his last 10 months of active service in the Navy. Unsurprisingly, he is decorated with many medals, for both his military service and service as a working royal.
There's a good reason though – the Duke of Sussex actively served as a captain in the British Army, displaying more medals due to his military service and proudly wore his Afghanistan Service Medal on his chest.
The duke's decision is in line with protocol for retired British military personnel, who are not allowed to wear uniform unless they have been authorised to do so and instead, they wear their military medals pinned to civilian clothes, according to CNN.
Who is Lady Louise Windsor - Queen Elizabeth's favourite grandchild. The late Queen Elizabeth and her granddaughter had a very special bond. Lady Louise Windsor, the eldest child of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, is the granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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.
This is because when a member of the royal family has a child, tradition says that only the father may pass on his title, and the only princes and princesses in the family have fathers in the direct line of succession.
The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin have been awarded the silver Royal Victoria Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral.
The official rules for wearing medals allow only official awards to be worn. Unofficial purchased medals and foreign medals which do not have the Sovereign's permission to be worn are not allowed.
Princess Charlotte was captured crying after remaining composed throughout the ceremony. The seven-year-old wiped her eyes as she watched her great-grandmother's coffin being placed into the hearse at Wellington Arch.
Prince Harry, who served for ten years in the Army and did two tours in Afghanistan, has not been permitted to wear military uniform because he is not a working member of the Royal family. Instead, he will wear a morning suit.
It is only personnel currently serving on the date of the Jubilee who are eligible for the medal. The fact that Jubilee medals are not extended to veterans in no way diminishes the esteem in which they are held by Her Majesty, the Government and the people of the United Kingdom.
Serving members of the Armed Forces who completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2022. Volunteer Reserve and ex-Regular Reservists of the Armed Forces who had received five Certificates of Efficiency.
24) In New Zealand Princess Anne is Colonel in Chief of The Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals and The Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps.
At the coronation, the Duke of Sussex was wearing a black three-piece set of tails and military medals on his chest including a star around the neck that indicated he is the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO).
Prince Edward, 58, Earl of Wessex
Out of all of the kids, Prince Edward, now known as the Earl of Wessex, is believed to be the Queen and Prince Philip's favorite child. In fact, it was reported that Edward's portrait was the only one in Philip's study.
Born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones in August 1965, the countess hails from a “normal” family background. Her parents are Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones, a retired salesman, and the late Mary Rhys-Jones, who worked as a secretary, per Town & Country.
P rince Edward's daughter has missed out on a royal title due to an ancient tradition that favours sons over daughters. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, 19, will not inherit the title Countess of Wessex with it skipping her for her younger brother, James, who will become the Earl of Wessex.
Thanks to his active service in the Army, many will notice that Prince Harry has more medals than his brother, the heir to the throne.
A royal source told CNN on Friday that Harry would wear the uniform at the King's request. Prince Harry wore a morning suit throughout the other events honoring his grandmother. A Sussex spokesperson said Tuesday that Harry's “decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears.”
The duke wore a suit for all but one royal events when he returned to the UK following the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, but he was allowed to display his medals on every occasion.