It’s been more than two years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to step down as senior members of the Royal Family, leading to 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 of the Royal Marines, Honorary Commander of Air, RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command to the Queen Elizabeth II.

“Following conversations with the Duke, the Queen has written to confirm that by stepping away from the work of the Royal Family, it is not possible to continue to assume the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of service. 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 had been a ’12 month review’ after Harry and Meghan’s first step back.

According to royal authors Caroline Durand and Omid Scobie“The most demoralizing aspect” of Harry and Meghan’s new deal with the Queen was “the fact that he was stripped of his honorary military appointments bestowed on him as a senior royal”.

“As a retired serviceman, Harry could still wear his medals, but he could no longer wear uniform as Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Force Commander of Royal Air Force Base Honington and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief. small ships and diving operations of the Royal Navy,” they wrote in their book find freedom. “[It’s been] a hard pill to swallow and the one that has been the most painful for Meghan to see him through. He’s the one who got Harry emotional.

British Royal Family dress code rules state that serving members of the Royal Family who have served in the armed forces dress in uniform for military matters, including Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday and funerals of state.

After retiring from his duties in the service of the Queen, Harry, who served 10 years in the British army, was obviously not in uniform alongside Prince William and other serving members of the Royal Family at Her Majesty’s Trooping the Color Platinum Jubilee 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 being charged with sexual assault – was allowed to wear his military uniform for one event, the late monarch’s final vigil, “as a mark of special respect”. (He was not allowed to wear his uniform for any further funeral events alongside his siblings.) After news broke that Harry had not been granted the same exception, royal pundits had different opinions.

Christopher Andersonfor its part, exclusively said We Weekly that the decision was “to be expected” even though it is a “very sensitive” subject.

“It was [what] the queen wanted,” he said of Harry being stripped of his honorary titles. “And I think Charles wanted to make sure those wishes were granted.”

Commentator Shola Mos-Shogbamimumeanwhile said Newsweek that double standards were “deplorable”.

“Prince Harry served with distinction. He served in the military with distinction, rising through the ranks. He has done two tours in Afghanistan. He still works with veterans and promotes support for injured men and women. Plus, he started the Invictus Games [a sporting event for wounded servicemen and women]. If there was anyone in between who had the right to wear a uniform, then it was Prince Harry,” Mos-Shogbamimu said. “I think of Charles. Didn’t he learn a thing or two about the backlash the Queen had over how she protected Prince Andrew?

However, the palace seemed to have a change of heart before the Queen’s final vigil.

On September 15, royal expert Omid Scobie tweeted“In a dramatic twist, Palace officials have informed Prince Harry that he CAN wear his military uniform during a final vigil. On Saturday evening, Harry will join seven other grandchildren in Westminster Hall to stand in silence for 15 minutes near the Queen’s coffin.(The UK The mirror was the first to report the update.)

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