Prince Harry can now wear military uniform to Queen’s vigil after being denied

Prince Harry will be wearing his military uniform when he takes part in a special vigil for Queen Elizabeth II this Saturday, Page Six has confirmed.

A source exclusively tells Page Six that Harry — who was previously told he could not wear the military uniform — did not request the change.

“He was simply prepared to wear whatever his grandmother made plans for. He’s focused on honoring her and that’s it. If they’d like him in uniform, I have no reason to think that he won’t oblige,” our source says.

A source told The Daily Mirror, who first reported the news on Thursday, that it was a “ludicrous situation” in the first place.

“The Duke of Sussex has served his country and is a highly respected member of the armed forces with everything he has done for veterans,” a source told the newspaper. “It is important that the Queen’s grandchildren are all made to feel welcome and comfortable as they grieve their beloved grandmother together.”

Prince Harry in uniform.
Prince Harry will now be allowed to wear his military uniform during a special vigil.
Getty Images

The Queen’s eight grandchildren, including Prince William and Harry, are expected to stand on Saturday evening for a 15-minute vigil alongside their grandmother’s coffin.

The Queen’s other grandchildren including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Peter Philips and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn will also be taking part in the vigil at Westminster Hall.

It’s unclear whether Harry has been given permission to wear his military uniform for the funeral on Monday as well.

It was announced earlier this week that Harry and his disgraced uncle, Prince Andrew, would be barred from wearing their military uniforms to the Queen’s funeral on Sept. 19.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, was stripped of his military titles when he quit royal life in 2020 and moved to California with his wife, Meghan Markle.

Prince Andrew was forced to quit public life in 2019, after a disastrous BBC interview in which he defended his friendship with the infamous financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and claimed never to have met his sexual abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. He later shelled out millions of dollars to settle a civil lawsuit with Giuffre.

Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 in London, England. The 100th birthday of the RAF, which was founded on on 1 April 1918, was marked with a centenary parade with the presentation of a new Queen's Colour and flypast of 100 aircraft over Buckingham Palace.
Prince Harry enjoyed a close relationship with his grandmother.
Getty Images

As Page Six exclusively reported, Harry — who served two front-line tours of Afghanistan — was “saddened” by the decision.


Read Page Six’s up-to-the-minute coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s passing:


Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Andrew, Duke of York follow the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II during the procession for the Lying-in State of Queen Elizabeth II on September 14, 2022 in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.
Prince Andrew and Prince Harry had previously both been barred from wearing their military uniforms.
WireImage

“Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes said in a statement to Page Six on Tuesday.

“His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

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