On the day of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, many people who spectated the event are asking: Why isn’t Prince Andrew wearing his uniform?
Prince Andrew is Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s third child and second son. During the funeral and several ceremonies in honor of Her Majesty, Prince Andrew was seen in a black suit, in contrast to his siblings, who were all wearing their military uniforms. There were some exceptions to why Prince Andrew was wearing his military outfit at some events such as the Princes Vigil. However, during the Queen’s coffin procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall and during her actual funeral, he wore his black suit with his medals attached to his pocket.
Read down below to why Prince Andrew wasn’t wearing his military uniform.
Why did Prince Andrew not wear his military uniform at the Queen’s funeral?
Image: Getty Images
Prince Andrew was not wearing his military uniform for the Queen’s funeral because he was stripped of his title in 2022 due to his connection to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Because he, along with Prince Harry are not working members of the Royal Family, they were not allowed to wear their uniforms for the coffin procession and the funeral. However, Andrew and Harry were permitted to wear their uniforms as a “special mark of respect for the Queen at the final vigil,” according to King Charles. The Prince’s vigil took place on Friday, September 17, 2022.
Andrew’s royal titles were stripped in 2022 due to his connection with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has faced mounting scrutiny in recent years due to his alleged relationship with Epstein, and accusations by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a victim of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. Giuffre claims she was sexually assaulted multiple times by Prince Andrew in London and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein, who died in prison in August 2019. Renewed interest in these allegations was sparked after Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Andrew in the state of New York, which he settled out of court. In an interview with the BBC in November 2019, Andrew said he “regretted” his connection to Epstein but had no memory of ever meeting Giuffre. “I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever,” he said and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He stepped back from royal life shortly after the BBC interview aired.
Buckingham Palace released a statement announcing the Queen’s decision. “With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen. The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen,” the announcement read at the time. King Charles III served with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for six years, and Prince William served for more than seven years as a search and rescue pilot. However, the two never served during a war.
Image: Courtesy of Random House.
For more about the British royal family, check out Sally Bedell Smith’s 2012 biography, Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch.
The New York Times bestseller, which includes the “real story” behind several storylines featured in Netflix’s The Crown, follows Queen Elizabeth II’s life from her childhood as the “heiress presumptive” to her father, King George VI; to the moment he met her husband, Prince Philip, when she was 13 years old; to her ascension to the throne at 25 years old in 1952. Elizabeth the Queen, which also includes interviews with Buckingham Palace sources and never-before-revealed documents, provides a deep dive into the Queen’s legacy as one of the most famous monarchs in recent history.
