Prince Andrew has been allowed to keep the royal cypher
Prince Harry was not allowed to wear the Queen’s ‘ER’ initials on his military uniform as he held vigil by her coffin.
The Duke of Sussex was reportedly left “devastated” after the royal cypher was removed – even though his uncle, Prince Andrew, was allowed to keep his.
According to Daily Mail reports, he is said to have considered wearing a morning suit to avoid embarrassment as the monarch’s eight grandchildren carried out a sombre guard of honour inside Westminster Hall last night.
Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, had previously been prevented from wearing military uniform this week as he is no longer a working royal.
He was granted permission by King Charles to wear the livery for the vigil inside the Palace of Westminster.
The Duke of Sussex was a Personal Aide de Camp of the Queen and, as a result, had previously worn the cypher. But it was among the posts he resigned when he stepped down from royal duties and moved to California.
The ‘ER’ initials are traditionally only worn by those ‘in service’ of the monarch, and so the absence of the cypher is thought to be down to dress regulations as opposed to a direct snub of the prince.
A friend told the Sunday Times: “He is heartbroken. To remove his grandmother’s initials feels very intentional.”
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