On the latest journey by Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in Parliament, two brothers walked behind another coffin, 25 years after winning hearts by doing the same. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex joined his older brother William, Prince of Charles and Britain’s new heir to the throne in the Queen’s funeral procession. The scenes brought back memories of when they were young and walking together behind their mother Diana’s coffin.
What one may have noticed, however, is that Harry wore a morning suit with his military medals on it, but not the ceremonial attire, despite having served in the British Army for a decade, which includes two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
William and her father – the new British monarch, King Charles III. – both wore military suits. The King’s sister Princess Anne and younger brother Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex were also seen in the ceremonial costume. Anne’s son Peter Philips, Queen’s son Prince Andrew and Harry were all missing the military outfit.
Also read | The Representation of Queen Elizabeth II: The Solemn Tradition Explained
Prince Harry can no longer wear his military suit. He and his wife Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and have lived in the United States ever since. Before the funeral procession began, a spokesperson for Harry said he would wear a morning suit to all pre-funeral events.
Prince Andrew, the new monarch’s younger brother and the Queen’s third child, was also stripped of his royal titles over a sexual assault scandal.
Prince William, on the other hand, is a full-time royal along with his wife Catherine (Kate) Middleton, Princes of Wales.
Tensions have run high between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the royal family since the couple’s candid interview with Ophrah Winfrey in 2018, in which he spoke about his father and brother feeling trapped in royal life.
(With inputs from AFP)
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