LONDON, Sept 15: King Charles III's second son Prince Harry was not in military
uniform at the Queen's procession to Westminster.
Prince Harry and Prince Andrew, Queen's second son, were not wearing and will
not wear military uniform at Queen's funeral events as the royal protocol doesn't
allow. Prince Harry will wear only a mourning suit at all the events.
Prince Andrew can wear military uniform on ceremonial occasions in certain
exceptional cases.
King Charles III, his sister Princess Anne and his youngest brother Prince
Edward and his elder son Prince William, who is now the heir to the throne,
wore military uniform at the service of thanksgiving at St. Giles' Cathedral
in Edinburgh on Monday and during Wednesday's procession from Buckingham Palace
to Westminster Hall, reported US media.
Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, was also not wearing a uniform during
Wednesday's procession. He is not a working royal and has not served in the
military.
Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy for 22 years as a helicopter pilot and
instructor and then as a commander of a naval ship. He took part
in the Falklands War. While he left active service with the Royal Navy in July
2001, he continued to wear uniform during ceremonial events as a working royal
because of his honorary titles.
Earlier this year, Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles and charities
following a sexual abuse case. He had in 2019 stepped back from his royal duties
over the issue.
Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years. He completed two tours
of Afghanistan, achieved the rank of captain in 2011 and qualified as an Apache
Aircraft commander. Captain Harry Wales, as he was known in the Army, retired
from the Army in 2015.
He too continued to wear his uniform while attending royal ceremonies but stopped
wearing a uniform after stepping back from his royal duties in 2020 following
differences in the royal household.
King Charles III served with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for six years,
but he never took part in an active war. Prince William served for more than
seven years as a search and rescue pilot.
Princess Anne and Prince Edward never served in the military, but both hold
honorary titles.
It may also be noted here that unlike in the US, where veterans often wear
uniforms for special occasions, retired British military personnel are not allowed
to wear uniform unless they are in an honorary appointment and had been authorized
to wear one. However, they wear their military medals pinned to civilian clothes.-CNN