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Prince Harry could be banned from wearing his military uniforms at future engagements if the Queen strips him of his patronages and Armed Forces titles.
The 36-year-old is known to cherish his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines and is also honorary air commandant of RAF Honington in Suffolk and the Royal Navy’s commodore-in-chief of Small Ships and Diving.
But he is expected to lose the three honorary Forces titles following the one-year review period after Megxit.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will both be stripped of official patronages they kept after stepping down as working royals last year, reports claim, in a move that is said to have left them ‘upset’.
Harry has at least two ceremonial uniforms for his roles in the Forces but has also worn a variety of military outfits in previous years as well as when he was in active service.
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If he loses his titles the prince would still be allowed to wear his medals, including his Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan and those for the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees, but could be prevented from wearing his uniforms.
Retired Armed Forces personnel in Britain are allowed to wear their medals but generally not their uniform at official engagements. Harry had only been allowed to wear his uniform for royal appearances because of his honorary titles.
The ban on military attire following retirement is not automatic, with a procedure in place for exceptions at certain appropriate occasions.
If Harry is stripped of his titles, it is likely Buckingham Palace will decide on whether he could still wear his uniforms based on conversations with the Ministry of Defence’s ceremonial team.
A final announcement from the Queen on what will happen to the Sussexes is expected at the end of next month to avoid any further speculation and uncertainty, according to the Daily Telegraph.
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Harry’s military titles were put on hold for a year when a Megxit agreement was thrashed out at a Sandringham Summit a year ago. The terms stipulated the position would be reviewed ahead of 31 March 2021.
It is understood the decision to strip the couple of their last remaining royal titles is not being done as a retaliation to a ’tell-all’ interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers said it’s a case of setting a precedent for other members of the monarchy to show that they cannot pick and choose what to be a part of.
Sources say practical considerations, such as the couple living thousands of miles away, have also come into play as well as concern the couple could make commercial gains from retaining their patronages.
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A former friend of Harry’s told The Sun: ‘There is no secret that Americans love a Brit in army uniform. Harry is far more marketable pictured with his Army uniform at events in the UK than as a bloke in a shirt and chinos.’
A source added: ‘There would always be a suspicion military titles and patronages could end up being used on a documentary or television show somewhere.
‘Is this picture going to be used to promote something next time he has something coming out?
‘There will always be that doubt. You can’t allow people to accuse you of doing it for your own interests. It’s unworkable.’
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Meghan is expected to be the focus of the interview with Oprah, who is a close friend and attended their wedding in 2018. Harry is expected to appear at the end to talk about his family and new life, following the news that they are expecting their second child.
The Queen is said to have every faith Harry and Meghan will honour royal protocol during the TV interview.
Sources say the couple have the greatest respect and love for Queen and will not say anything to undermine that.
They are reportedly fighting to retain their titles and insist they would have regularly returned to the UK to support the organisations were it not for the Covid-19 pandemic.
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