Harry ‘left devastated by vigil uniform snub’
Queen’s initials were removed from his ceremonial military outfit
AN EXTRAORDINARY row over the decision to remove the Queen’s initials from the shoulder of Prince Harry’s military uniform has laid bare the depth of his rift with the Royal Family.
The prince was said to have been left ‘devastated’ after receiving his ceremonial dress of the Blues and Royals from Buckingham Palace without the distinctive EIIR cipher on the shoulder.
He wore the uniform to Saturday night’s vigil over the Queen’s coffin alongside the monarch’s seven other grandchildren.
Such was his despair, Harry is even said to have considered wearing a morning suit as they were leaving in order to avoid the ‘embarrassment’.
A friend told The Sunday Times: ‘He is heartbroken. To remove his grandmother’s initials feels very intentional.’
Others have suggested the move was ‘petty and personal’.
William and Harry, both dressed in military uniform, stood at either end of the coffin on Saturday night.
They were joined by cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn. Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, had previously been told he would have to wear a morning suit as he is no longer a working royal and has been stripped of any honorary military appointments.
However, his father, King Charles, granted permission for his son to wear his old uniform at the vigil inside the Palace of Westminster as a show of respect and unity to the late Queen.
While Buckingham Palace has declined to comment, the Daily Mail understands no personal slight was intended.
The cipher was removed simply because Harry is no longer an aidede-camp (ADC) to the Queen after quitting royal duties and handing back his military appointments.
A Personal Aide-de-Camp is an appointment bestowed only on members of the Royal Family holding military rank, including the Prince of Wales.
Nowadays, it is an honorary role with few duties or responsibilities, although historically it would have signified close proximity to the monarch. Harry was awarded the honour in 2018 and it was seen as a sign of his growing responsibility within the monarchy.
But following his acrimonious decision in 2020 to quit as a working royal and seek his fortune in the US, the Queen insisted he withdraw from all responsibilities and appointments. It means he is simply no longer entitled to wear the insignia of an ADC on his uniform.
Much has been made of the fact that the shamed Duke of York was seen in his ADC insignia at Friday night’s vigil by the Queen’s chilciations dren. Andrew was permitted to wear it because, unlike Harry, he did not give the honour back when he relinquished his military assoin January. A spokesman said it was a personal appointment by the Queen.
Questions will undoubtedly be raised, however, as to why Harry was forced to hand the honour back, when his uncle was not.
A source told the Mail yesterday: ‘The Duke of Sussex may be upset but everyone is simply following rules laid down by the military. What has happened shows how delicate the situation is with anything to do with the Sussexes.
‘Even a simple procedural matter can suddenly become a personal slight. It doesn’t bode well for the future.’
A defence source stressed: ‘Retired service personnel and veterans are not entitled or allowed to wear uniform unless they are in an honorary appointment where uniform has been authorised to be worn for the duration of the appointment. Under the current circumstances there may be various exceptions or special cases, all of which would be for the Palace to decide.’
On Saturday, Prince William was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, the Garter Sash, the Garter Star, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and RAF Pilot Wings.
Harry was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings.
Harry will, however, wear civilian dress for today’s funeral.
‘Shamed Duke of York wore the insignia’