Prince Harry’s Military Uniform Drama: A Breakdown of When and Why He Lost His Titles and More

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Prince Harry's Military Uniform Drama: A Breakdown of When and Why He Lost His Titles and More

It’s been more than two years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted to step back from their duties as senior members of the royal family, resulting in the Duke of Sussex losing his royal patronages and military titles. News broke in February 2021 that Harry had officially returned the titles of Captain General Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant, RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command to Queen Elizabeth II. “Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family,” the palace said at the time, confirming that there was a “12-month review” following Harry and Meghan’s initial step back. According to royal authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, “the most demoralizing aspect” of Harry and Meghan’s new deal with the queen was “his being stripped of his honorary military appointments that had been awarded to him as a senior royal.” “As a retired serviceman, Harry would always be able to wear his medals, but no longer could he wear uniform as Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy’s Small Ships and Diving Operations,” they wrote in their book Finding Freedom. “[It’s been] a tough pill to swallow and the one that has been most painful to Meghan witness him go through. It’s the one that made Harry emotional.” British royal family dress code rules state that working members of the royal family who served in the armed forces dress in uniform for military affairs including the Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday and state funerals. As a result of stepping back from his duties working for the queen, Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, was noticeably not in uniform alongside Prince William and other working members of the royal family during Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour celebration in June 2022. Three months later, when Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, the palace confirmed that Prince Andrew — who was stripped of his titles in January 2022 two years after he was accused of sexual assault — was granted permission to wear his military uniform for one event, the late monarch’s final vigil, “as a special mark of respect.” (He was not given permission to wear his uniform for other funeral events alongside his siblings.) After news broke that Harry was not granted the same exception, royal experts had different opinions. [jwplayer 0z26rNfP-zhNYySv2] Christopher Andersen, for his part, exclusively told Us Weekly that the decision was “to be expected” even though it’s a “very sensitive” topic. “It was [what] the queen wanted,” he said of Harry being stripped of his honorary titles. “And I think Charles wanted to make sure that those wishes were fulfilled.” Commentator Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, meanwhile, told Newsweek that the double standards were “deplorable.” "Prince Harry served with distinction. He served in the army with distinction, rising in the ranks. He did two tours of Afghanistan. He still works with veterans and promotes support for wounded men and women. Plus, he started the Invictus Games [a sporting event for wounded servicemen and women]. If there was anyone between the both of them who has the right to wear a uniform, then it's Prince Harry,” Mos-Shogbamimu said. "I'm thinking about Charles. Hasn't he learned a thing or two about the backlash that the queen got about the way she protected Prince Andrew?" However, the palace appeared to have a change of heart ahead of the queen's final vigil. On September 15, royal expert Omid Scobie tweeted, "In a dramatic u-turn, palace officials have informed Prince Harry that he CAN wear his military uniform at a final vigil. On Saturday evening, Harry will join seven other grandchildren at Westminster Hall to stand in silence for 15 minutes by the Queen’s coffin." (The U.K.’s The Mirror was first to report the update.) Scroll through for more details on Harry's uniform drama:

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Prince Harry's Military Uniform Drama: A Breakdown of When and Why He Lost His Titles and More

It’s been more than two years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted to step back from their duties as senior members of the royal family, resulting in the Duke of Sussex losing his royal patronages and military titles. News broke in February 2021 that Harry had officially returned the titles of Captain General Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant, RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command to Queen Elizabeth II. “Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family,” the palace said at the time, confirming that there was a “12-month review” following Harry and Meghan’s initial step back. According to royal authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, “the most demoralizing aspect” of Harry and Meghan’s new deal with the queen was “his being stripped of his honorary military appointments that had been awarded to him as a senior royal.” “As a retired serviceman, Harry would always be able to wear his medals, but no longer could he wear uniform as Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy’s Small Ships and Diving Operations,” they wrote in their book Finding Freedom. “[It’s been] a tough pill to swallow and the one that has been most painful to Meghan witness him go through. It’s the one that made Harry emotional.” British royal family dress code rules state that working members of the royal family who served in the armed forces dress in uniform for military affairs including the Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday and state funerals. As a result of stepping back from his duties working for the queen, Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, was noticeably not in uniform alongside Prince William and other working members of the royal family during Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour celebration in June 2022. Three months later, when Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, the palace confirmed that Prince Andrew — who was stripped of his titles in January 2022 two years after he was accused of sexual assault — was granted permission to wear his military uniform for one event, the late monarch’s final vigil, “as a special mark of respect.” (He was not given permission to wear his uniform for other funeral events alongside his siblings.) After news broke that Harry was not granted the same exception, royal experts had different opinions. [jwplayer 0z26rNfP-zhNYySv2] Christopher Andersen, for his part, exclusively told Us Weekly that the decision was “to be expected” even though it’s a “very sensitive” topic. “It was [what] the queen wanted,” he said of Harry being stripped of his honorary titles. “And I think Charles wanted to make sure that those wishes were fulfilled.” Commentator Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, meanwhile, told Newsweek that the double standards were “deplorable.” "Prince Harry served with distinction. He served in the army with distinction, rising in the ranks. He did two tours of Afghanistan. He still works with veterans and promotes support for wounded men and women. Plus, he started the Invictus Games [a sporting event for wounded servicemen and women]. If there was anyone between the both of them who has the right to wear a uniform, then it's Prince Harry,” Mos-Shogbamimu said. "I'm thinking about Charles. Hasn't he learned a thing or two about the backlash that the queen got about the way she protected Prince Andrew?" However, the palace appeared to have a change of heart ahead of the queen's final vigil. On September 15, royal expert Omid Scobie tweeted, "In a dramatic u-turn, palace officials have informed Prince Harry that he CAN wear his military uniform at a final vigil. On Saturday evening, Harry will join seven other grandchildren at Westminster Hall to stand in silence for 15 minutes by the Queen’s coffin." (The U.K.’s The Mirror was first to report the update.) Scroll through for more details on Harry's uniform drama:

Credit: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

April 2021

After Prince Philip died, the palace announced that the “royal family will not be in military uniform” for the funeral.

"Members of the royal family will be wearing morning coat with medals or day dress," the statement read.

The break in tradition came amid confirmation that Philip wasn’t getting a state funeral due to COVID-19 restrictions. The service was dubbed a “Ceremonial Royal Funeral.” Others speculated that the decision was tied to trying not to make waves amid Harry’s return to the U.K. and Andrew’s controversy. While the Duke of York hadn’t officially been stripped of his titles yet, but had stepped back from his public duties and was no longer being promoted to the rank of admiral as his ties to Jeffrey Epstein made headlines.

Credit: Kirsty O'Connor/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

September 2022

News broke amid the weeks-long events related to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral that Andrew was granted permission to wear his military uniform for his mother’s final vigil, while Harry initally was not.

Harry later addressed the decision via a statement: “[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother. 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.”

Credit: Matt Dunham/AP/Shutterstock

June 2022

In addition to not being permitted to wear his uniform, Harry and Meghan were not allowed to join Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, King Charles III or Queen Consort Camilla on the balcony at the parade.

“After careful consideration, the Queen has decided that this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd of June will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement at the time.

Credit: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

September 2022

Days after the initial drama, Prince Harry was first seen in his military uniform for the first time in years on September 17 when the grandchildren stood vigil at Her Majesty's coffin for 15 minutes. William was also in uniform while cousins Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn, wore mourning clothes.

While he was granted the opportunity to wear his ceremonial uniform at the queen’s vigil, Her Majesty’s “ER” initials were seemingly missing from his epaulet. In comparison, William and Andrew’s outfits featured the tribute.

Credit: Chris J Ratcliffe/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

September 2022

As Queen Elizabeth II’s casket was transported to Westminster Hall on September 14, Harry, Andrew and Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips — who is also not a working member of the family — were part of the procession but not in uniform.

“He has come to terms with not wearing uniform on these occasions,” a source told Us at the time. “Whilst that’s disappointing in some senses, he’s just grateful to be present and honoring the queen. At the end of the day, it’s only a uniform.”

Credit: Courtesy BBC/YouTube

September 2022

For the queen’s state funeral on September 19, Harry and Andrew were part of the procession as the Royal Navy transported the late monarch to Westminster Abbey, but the two former working members of the royal family were not in uniform.