The world has been trying to figure out what the royal family will wear to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, and now, Kensington Palace has announced what they will wear on the day of her passing. While the decision may seem simple enough, it isn’t quite that simple, as the queen has dressed differently over the years. Will her closest family members follow suit? Here’s a glimpse at what the royal family will wear to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
The formal schedule for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, which will take place on Monday, Sept. 19, at Westminster Abbey and be followed by a committal service in St. George’s Chapel, has been announced by Buckingham Palace. According to Debrett’s, an authority on British culture, the declaration contains comprehensive information on the procession and participants, who will wear all black. According to the magazine, women “wear black knee-length gowns, or jackets, black caps, and may also wear face-covering veils.”
Prince Harry’s attire has also drawn attention since, although losing his royal titles in 2020 when he and his wife Meghan Markle left the royal family, he is still allowed to wear his military uniform. Harry spent ten years in the British army, and on September 14 he walked in the parade with his brother, Prince William, wearing his military decorations.
A representative for Harry provided the following statement to E! News on his attire: “Throughout the ceremonies commemorating his grandmother, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, will dress in a morning suit. We humbly request that attention be kept on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II because his decade of military service is not contingent upon the uniform he is wearing.” Recent developments, however, suggest that he could decide to wear his full uniform at the state burial.
According to The Telegraph, Prince Andrew was only allowed to wear his own military uniform for the queen’s vigil until he was stripped of all of his royal military titles in 2022 as a result of a lawsuit filed against him for sexual assault.
When the late Duke of Edinburgh passed away in April 2021, men wore black morning jackets with their medals to the burial, rather than military uniforms.
Continue reading to discover what Prince Harry and Markle wore on September 10 during a private walk at Windsor Castle and to read about Harry’s final public appearance in his uniform in 2020. Check out Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton honoured the queen on September 14 at Westminster Hall by wearing jewellery.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the walk at Windsor Castle on September 10 and wore black mourning hues as they observed flowers and memorials to Queen Elizabeth II. Markle wore a three-quarter-sleeved knit midi dress over transparent tights with Sarah Flint suede shoes, Cartier jewellery, including her renowned Tank watch, Ecksand butterfly earrings, and her wedding ring stack, while Harry went for a blue suit and black tie to complement his oxfords.
On March 7, 2020, in London, Prince Harry attended the Mountbatten Music Festival while dressed in his full military uniform. One of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s last official engagements saw Markle wear a crimson cape dress by Safiyaa and accessorise with a Manolo Blahnik purse, while Harry matched in an uniform denoting his rank as Captain General of the Royal Marines.
