Why Prince Harry will not wear a military uniform for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

The Duke of Sussex will not wear military uniform at official Royal events to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's death due to his non-working Royal status. 

Harry, who saw action on the frontline during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, will be in civilian dress for official events including the late monarch's state funeral on Monday.

Only working royals – which Harry is not – are being permitted to dress in uniform at the five ceremonial occasions.

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These are the St Giles' Cathedral service in Edinburgh, which took place on Monday, the coffin's procession to Westminster Hall, the vigil at the lying in state, the funeral in Westminster Abbey and the committal service in Windsor.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes said in a statement: "Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring 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."

Three of the Queen's four children – the King, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward – wore ceremonial dress uniforms to accompany the slow procession of the Queen's coffin as it made its way to St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh.

However, despite his non-working Royal status, the Duke of York will wear military dress at one event – the vigil in Westminster Hall – "as a special mark of respect" for his mother, Buckingham Palace says.

In January, the Queen stripped Andrew of all of his honorary military roles, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and he gave up his HRH style, just before he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to a woman he claimed never to have met.

Virginia Giuffre had sued him for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew denied the claims.

In a break with tradition, the Queen decided that no members of the Royal Family should wear military dress for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021. 

Several members of the senior Royal Family have served in the Armed Forces and also hold honorary ranks or positions.

Watch: What is a state funeral?

HRH King Charles III trained as a pilot in the Royal Air Force and passed out at Cranwell. 

Eventually, the monarch joined the Royal Navy, just like his father, grandfather and both great-grandfathers.

He qualified as a helicopter pilot and took command of coastal minehunter HMS Bronington. 

William Prince of Wales trained with all three branches of the Armed Forces and served for seven-and-a-half years. 

His interest in flying saw the then Flight Lieutenant Wales joining C Flight, 22 Squadron, at RAF Valley in Anglesey in September 2010 and spending three years as a search and rescue pilot. 

The Duke of York served for more than two decades in the Royal Navy. He said he returned from the Falklands War "a changed man".  

The Duke of Sussex served in the British Army for 10 years during which he saw two tours of duty in Afghanistan. 

Prince Harry returned some military appointments to the Queen after the decision by him and the Duchess of Sussex in January 2020 to step down as senior working Royals.