Prince Harry ‘to wear military uniform’ as ‘final mark of respect’ at vigil for Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Harry will reportedly be permitted to wear military uniform at a vigil set to be held for Queen Elizabeth II by her grandchildren.

• The Duke of Sussex is said to be set to wear military uniform to a vigil for Queen Elizabeth attended by her grandchildren on September 17.  
• Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back as senior royals, he has been observed wearing civilian clothing to major royal events.  
• This royal news comes as Prince William and Kate Middleton made their first trip to Sandringham since the Queen's death for a solemn royal walkabout. 

Following the news from Buckingham Palace on September 8 that Queen Elizabeth II had died at Balmoral Castle, members of her immediate family and the extended Royal Family have been seen coming together to mourn Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. After a solemn procession from the palace to Westminster Hall, the Queen’s coffin is Lying-in-State allowing members of the public to pay their respects. The Queen’s children lead the procession with several of her grandchildren, including the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex, also walking behind Her Majesty’s coffin. 

Now it’s been suggested by The Telegraph that Prince Harry will reportedly be permitted to wear military uniform to a vigil at the Queen’s coffin held by the Queen’s grandchildren at Westminster Hall on September 17. 

Reports have suggested that all eight of these prominent royals will supposedly form a guard of honor that evening following a vigil held by the Queen’s children, the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex on September 16. 

Since Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan “stepped back” as senior members of the Royal Family, the Duke of Sussex’s honorary military appointments and royal patronages held by the couple were returned to the late monarch. 

Prince Harry has been observed wearing civilian clothing as he joined King Charles, the Prince of Wales and other senior royals paying their respects to Her Majesty. The Telegraph reported that the decision for the Duke of Sussex to have be permitted to wear military uniform came as his uncle Prince Andrew received the same dispensation as a “final mark of respect” to Queen Elizabeth. 

Prince Harry served in the Army for a decade and completed two tours of Afghanistan before retiring in 2015. Over his many years serving in the Armed Forces, the Queen’s grandson rose to the rank of Captain. As well as reportedly joining his cousins for a vigil on September 17, Prince Harry will also be alongside the wider Royal Family as they pay their respects to Her Majesty at her funeral service at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19. 

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will begin at 11am and it has recently been announced that Two Minute’s Silence will be observed towards the end of the service, with the National Anthem bringing the funeral to a close around midday.