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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Russell Myers & Kris Gourlay

Prince Harry given 'special permission' to wear military uniform at Queen's vigil

Prince Harry will reportedly wear his military uniform in a special tribute to the Queen on Saturday.

Due to appear at a vigil commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last week aged 96, speculation has started to build over the attire Prince Harry will wear after standing down from royal duty.

Similar rumours surrounding Prince Andrew were also doing the rounds after his military titles were stripped from him. The Mirror reports that the Duke of Sussex obtained special permission to attend a lying-in-state vigil for his grandmother while sporting his military colours at Westminster hall.

READ MORE: Prince Harry’s touching tribute to the Queen and her first moment with ‘darling wife’

A 15-minute silent vigil will take place on Saturday and will be staged by the Queen's eight grandchildren, including Harry and Prince William, the new Prince of Wales.

Buckingham Palace are believed to have intervened after it emerged that Prince Andrew, Harry's uncle, had been given special permission to wear his uniform to a separate vigil on Friday by her four children - despite being banned at earlier ceremonial events.

A royal source said: “Common sense has prevailed. It was a ludicrous situation given the Duke of Sussex has served his country and is a highly respected member of the armed forces with everything he has done for veterans.

"It is important that the Queen's grandchildren are all made to feel welcome and comfortable as they grieve their beloved grandmother together."

Harry, who served in the British army, had this week been at the centre of a row over whether he would be allowed to wear his Blues and Royals uniform. Harry quit his role in 2020 to focus on the mental wellbeing of himself and his wife, Meghan Markle.

On Tuesday, Prince Harry, who served two front line tours of duty in Afghanistan, addressed the rule barring him from wearing his military uniform in a statement released through his spokesperson. He confirmed he would be wearing a morning suit and asked that the “focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”.

A spokesperson for the duke said: “Prince Harry 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.”

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