According to reports, Prince Harry was left ‘devastated’ by Queen Elizabeth’s ER initials. Prince Harry held vigil beside her coffin as Prince Andrew allowed him to keep his royal cypher.
38 year old Duke of Sussex is reported to have thought of wearing a morning outfit to save embarrassment while eight of the monarch’s grandchildren held a dark guard of honor inside Westminster Hall.
Both Harry and William, dressed in military uniforms, stood on either side of the coffin. They Zara Tindall (and Peter Phillips), Princesses Beatrice & Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn were their cousins.
Harry was present on the frontline during his two tours in Afghanistan. He had been previously prohibited from being dressed up as military personnel this week because he is not a working prince.
King Charles granted him permission to use the livery at the Palace of Westminster Vigil.
However, the Duke of Sussex is understood to have been devastated to find his grandmother’s initials had been stripped from the shoulder of his uniform, The Sunday Times reports. Prince William did not have his initials removed.
Harry’s despair is understood to largely centre around Prince Andrew, who is also no longer a working royal, having retained the initials on his vice-admiral’s uniform as the Queen’s children held a vigil on Friday night.
As a Personal Assistant de Camp to the Queen, the Duke of Sussex had worn the Cypher before. It was one of the positions he quit when he retired from his royal duties to move to California.
Traditionally, only those ‘in the service’ of the monarch can wear the ‘ER” initials. The absence of this cypher could be attributed more to dressing regulations than to a direct snub by the prince.
Harry, however, was so overcome by his grief that he thought of wearing a morning suit to leave in an attempt to hide the embarrassment he had caused last night.
A friend shared the following with The Times: “He’s devastated.” To remove his grandmother’s initials feels very intentional.’
Prince William (left), wore ER initials last night on his shoulder. However, the cypher from Prince Harry’s was removed
Prince Andrew, who is also no longer a working royal, retained the initials on his vice-admiral’s uniform as the Queen’s children held vigil on Friday
Prince Harry pictured with the ER initials on the shoulder of his military uniform as he attended the Founder’s Day Parade at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in June 2019
William and Harry stood at either side of Queen Elizabeth’s coffin, as her grandchildren held last night’s vigil. While mourners filed past
Eight of the most dreadful grandchildren are seen arriving at Westminster Hall last evening, being led by Prince of Wales und Duke of Sussex to their coffins
Mourners viewed as her eight grandchildren, who held the vigil in Westminster Hall for her on Saturday night to remember the Queen.
Prince Harry is seen arriving for a vigil, as he and his family pay their respects last night to the coffin that Queen Elizabeth left them.
As the Royal cousins stood alongside their grandmother’s coffin, mourners continued to walk past it as they filed by the Queen’s coffin.
The princes walked side-by side behind Queen Elizabeth’s coffin, which was being moved to the Palace of Westminster.
The moment was so poignant that it led some to compare it with the time they stood behind Princess Diana’s coffin at her 1997 funeral.
After William and Harry presented an unorthodox united front during Saturday’s walkabout at Windsor Castle, Harry and Meghan were able to do so after putting on a surprise uniting front.
Sources close to the brothers say that there is no meaningful rapprochement as yet.
As the Queen received her coffin from Buckingham Palace, they joined other royals at Buckingham Palace for dinner.
Although they live close to each other, their conversations tend to be via aides and not through direct contact.
Harry, along with Meghan, was celebrating his 38th birthday. On Thursday they met William when he was returning from his school to collect his children.
The two brothers first drove by each other before pulling over and stopping for a conversation.
William does understand the importance of the brother-sister relationship, but he’s’solely focused’ on the honouring the Queen.
Harry closely observed his brother while he led the Queen’s grandchildren in holding the vigil at the coffin of the Queen last night.
Prince William wore the Blues and Royals Uniform, The No.1 Uniform and The Garter Star.
Harry meanwhile was dressed in the Blues and Royals Uniform and KCVO Neck Order and Star. Also, Harry had Afghanistan Operational Service Medals and Army Pilot Wings.
Before holding a vigil alongside the coffin of the grandmother, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex (right).
The grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth arrived at Westminster shortly before 6pm.
According to Harry’s source, it had been difficult this week for Harry to return home from his brother’s company.
Reconciliation is likely to be difficult as Harry’s book and the Sussexes Netflix documentary continue to linger on the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess found out that they weren’t invited to Buckingham Palace’s State Reception for World Leaders and Foreign Royals, according to reports.
Harry and Meghan were initially invited, but the invitation was later rescinded on the basis that the reception is only for working royals.