No royal military uniforms at Prince Philip’s funeral, queen rules, to avoid embarrassment for Prince Harry

Former British Army captain Harry – who did two tours of Afghanistan – was stripped of his honorary military titles after his shock departure from royal life

The queen is reported to have ‘personally stepped in’ to suggest the royal men wear morning coats with medals, allowing the family to present a united front

Reading Time:2 minutes

Prince Philip talks to Prince Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping The Colour parade, in London in 2014. The royal family will not wear military uniform at Philip’s funeral, in a break with tradition reportedly designed to avoid embarrassing Prince Harry, who was stripped of his honorary titles despite serving in Afghanistan when he quit royal life. Photo: AP

Published: 10:48am, 16 Apr 2021Updated: 10:48am, 16 Apr 2021

Members of Britain’s royal family at Prince Philip’s funeral will wear civilian clothing, Buckingham Palace says, reportedly to avoid awkwardness about which princes are entitled to wear military uniform.

Queen Elizabeth, 94, will pay her last respects to her late husband at Windsor Castle on Saturday, leading a congregation of just 30 because of coronavirus restrictions.

Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, died aged 99 last Friday. Officials confirmed that royal men will be in morning coats with medals, while the women will wear day dresses.

The announcement came after a swirl of media speculation about the queen’s second son, Prince Andrew, and grandson Prince Harry. Former British Army captain Harry – who did two tours of Afghanistan – was stripped of his honorary military titles after his shock departure from royal life last year.

Prince Harry (left) and Prince William attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London. Photo: AP

Under royal protocol, he is not allowed to wear formal military dress, and is now entitled only to wear a suit with his service medals.

Andrew, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot who saw action in the 1982 Falklands war, had been set to take the honorary rank of admiral for his 60th birthday last year.