Why is Princess Anne in military uniform at the Queen’s funeral?

WASHINGTON — During Monday’s funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II, several members of the royal family will don formal military uniforms to pay their respects.

Members of the Royal Family who have been granted titles and duties on behalf of the Crown are permitted to wear their military uniforms at ceremonial events such as state funerals.

For some who have served in the military, such as the newly crowned King Charles III, the uniform is a traditional choice.

However, other family members still wear military uniforms and decorations, even though they have never served or had their military titles stripped from them. Here’s why.

The King has worn his formal military garb to many of the events commemorating his mother and will wear full regalia at her wake and funeral.

Charles served in the Royal Air Force and followed in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and two great-grandfathers in the Royal Navy.

In the Air Force, Charles was trained as a jet pilot. He gave up flying after a crash landing in 1994 in which the plane’s crew acted negligently, according to an internal investigation.

In the Navy, Charles served on a missile destroyer and several frigates before assuming command of a coastal minehunter in 1976, less than a year before leaving the military.

As king, Charles can grant and revoke privileges to other royals, including the right to wear military uniforms.

Princess Anne was spotted wearing a Royal Navy ceremonial uniform at events throughout the week leading up to the funeral.

She never served in the Royal Navy or any other branch of the British Armed Forces. But like many royals, she holds a number of honorary military titles.

Anne was promoted to rear admiral in 1993 and vice admiral in 2009 before becoming admiral in 2012. So, although symbolic, she holds a rank in the British Navy.

She is also a General in the British Army and an Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force, and holds a number of other titles throughout the British Commonwealth.

The Duke of York is perhaps the most controversial member of the royal family to don a uniform for his mother’s services.

Earlier this year he was stripped of his military patronage and titles by the Queen after being accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuggre, who also accused Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew’s connection to Epstein, a sex trafficker who reportedly provides services to the rich and powerful, caused outrage when it came to light.

He denied Giuffre’s US sexual assault lawsuit but settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot and instructor and as a warship captain.

Although he has had his military titles stripped and is no longer a “working king”, his brother, King Charles, has given him permission to wear the uniform during the Queen’s vigil, although he will wear civilian clothes to the funeral himself.

Much like Anne, Edward was seen wearing a military uniform at several events honoring his mother in the week before her funeral, although he had never served.

In 1986 Edward joined the Royal Marines after leaving university but dropped out four months later. Despite this, he still holds a number of military honors, including the title of Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

He is also a Royal Honorary Colonel of the London Regiment, a Royal Colonel of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles and an Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Air Force Waddington.

Many in Britain criticized his numerous medals issued because he dropped out of 12 months of basic training.

Harry and his wife Megan Markle stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 and relocated to Southern California. Because he relinquished his role as working king under the crown, Harry subsequently lost all his military titles and the right to wear a military uniform at all services in honor of the queen.

Shortly after news of the Queen’s death, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duke of Sussex would not be allowed to wear a military uniform, despite being one of the few living members of the royal family to be on active duty.

It was also announced at the time that Prince Andrew would be admitted, although he too had no royal military titles.

But until Thursday before the funeral, Palace officials seemed to have changed their minds.

According to British media reports, Harry is allowed to wear his military uniform until a final vigil. On Saturday night, Harry will reportedly stand in silence for 15 minutes at the Queen’s coffin with seven other grandchildren, including his brother Prince Williams.

However, like Andrew, he is not allowed to wear one to the funeral himself, as military attire is then reserved for working members of the royal family.