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.
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. William spent seven years in the military, including more than three years as a search and rescue pilot.
The decision follows royal protocol, which typically bars non-working members of the royal family from wearing military uniforms to official state occasions.
Reportedly by invitation of the King, Harry was allowed to wear his military gear, as opposed to the morning suit he has been wearing for the previous events commemorating his late grandmother.
Military uniform: As working members of the royal family, three of the queen's children -- King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward -- and her grandson Prince William will be dressed in military uniform at the queen's funeral, according to Buckingham Palace.
According to the Palace, Prince Andrew will only wear his uniform "as a special mark of respect" at the final vigil at Westminster Hall. In a vigil by the Queen's grandchildren, Prince Harry, too, wore his military uniform, at the request of his father King Charles, per Buckingham Palace.
However, due to his status as a non-working member of the royal family, the Duke of Sussex was without military uniform at the service. "Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother," a spokesperson for Harry told E! News on Sept.
The medals and uniforms worn by the King Charles, Prince Edward, Prince William and Princess Anne at Queen's funeral. The King wore his Royal Navy uniform and his son and heir dressed in RAF colours at the funeral of the Queen in nods to the branches of the armed forces in which they both served.
This is due to Buckingham Palace saying that only working members of the royal family would be permitted to wear military uniform at Monday's state funeral. Despite being two members of the Queen's immediate family to have served in the military in wartime, this stops both from appearing in military dress.
As he holds military appointments and is a working royal he is entitled to wear a uniform.
The Duke of Sussex will not wear a military uniform or robes at the Coronation, The Telegraph can reveal. 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.
William instead trained in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, obtaining his commission as a sub-lieutenant in the former and flying officer in the latter, both broadly equivalent to the army rank of lieutenant. After completing his training, William undertook an attachment with the Royal Air Force at RAF Cranwell.
Anne wore her Royal Navy ceremonial uniform in the rank of Admiral, a navy blue double-breasted jacket with gold buttons, a standing collar edged with gold, a full dress sword belt with three stripes and the traditional white and navy tricorn ceremonial hat.
Like many royals, Princess Anne didn't actually serve in the military but does hold a number of honours and titles. The uniform she wears on royal occasions is a Royal Navy ceremonial uniform which represents her role in that division of the army.
The guiding principle is that attire should be professional and appropriate for a funeral. Acceptable attire may be the members' organization uniform or business attire suitable for the occasion.
The Duke of York is no longer a working royal, and according to protocol should not be permitted to wear uniform during the ceremonial events marking the Queen. However, he is being permitted to wear military dress at the vigil if he chooses to at Westminster Hall, as a “special mark of respect” for the Queen.
It is a must that all the women in the royal family, including the non-working royals, wear the traditional black lace veil attached to their hats in some form, at the Queen's funeral because of the long-held royal tradition.
Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Children, Archie and Lilibet, Didn't Attend Queen Elizabeth's Funeral. The kids are at home in California. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry put on a united front with the rest of the royal family as they attended Queen Elizabeth's funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19.
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.
During Queen Elizabeth II's funeral at Westminster Abbey, the palace seated Harry and Meghan directly behind Harry's father, King Charles III, and the Queen Consort Camilla. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were among other royal family members, right at the foot of the high altar.
When any member of the Royal Family travels to another country, they must always pack an all-black outfit. The reason being in case they have to attend a last-minute funeral in the host nation, or someone in the family were to pass away whilst they were abroad.
Because he, along with Prince Harry are not working members of the Royal Family, they were not allowed to wear their uniforms for the coffin procession and the funeral.
Women are expected to wear black dresses and formal hats, while men will wear black morning coats.
Members of the royal family who are granted titles and duties on behalf of the crown are permitted to wear their military uniforms during ceremonial events, such as state funerals. For some who served in the military, such as newly coronated King Charles III, the uniform is a traditional choice.
The practice of Royals visiting troops on active service was started by King George V during the First World War and continues to this day. In 1999, Prince Charles (now King Charles III) visited troops in Kosovo and in 2010 he went to Afghanistan. The Royal Family also supports military charities.