LONDON, Apr 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Members of the British royal family may break with tradition and not wear military uniform, at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, local media reported yesterday.
It is understood Queen Elizabeth II approved the move, which means Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Andrew will wear suits to tomorrow’s ceremony, Sky News reported.
Meanwhile, the Times newspaper said, the move was to spare Prince Harry embarrassment, as he would have been the only senior male in the royal family not to wear military uniform, after he was obliged to give up his honourary military appointments.
A military source told The Sun newspaper, “It’s the most eloquent solution to the problem.” Another source confirmed that “current thinking is, no uniforms.”
Funeral preparations are under way for Prince Philip, who died on Friday last week aged 99. The ceremonial royal funeral will be held at St George’s Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, at 15:00 BST (1400 GMT) on April 17 (tomorrow). The event will be televised.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said, the event “very much reflects the duke’s wishes.”
To adhere to current pandemic restriction which allows only 30 mourners to attend, the event will be reduced in scale with no public access, but a national one-minute silence will be held before the funeral begins.
Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921. He married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen, and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history. The couple had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.– NNN-AGENCIES
