The Duke of York has reportedly requested that he wear Admiral’s uniform to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday.
Prince Andrew, who stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was made an honorary Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy in 2015.
He was due to be promoted to become an Admiral in 2020 to mark his 60th birthday, but chose to defer it until he resumes his official duties as a working member of the royal family.
Now, though, according to The Daily Mail, the Duke has requested to wear Admiral uniform to his father’s funeral this weekend.
The role of Admiral is a senior rank in the Royal Navy and is the highest rank that a serving officer can be promoted to.
The difference in uniform between an Admiral and a Vice-Admiral is marginal.
For instance, an Admiral’s ceremonial day coat has three rows of lace on the sleeve while a Vice-Admiral’s has just two rows.
Additionally, the shoulder rank board is different, with the Admiral’s bearing a crossed baton and sword with four stars, while the Vice-Admiral’s bears the same but with three stars.
It’s not confirmed if other members of the royal family will wear any form of military dress on Saturday.
Senior royal family members typically all wear military uniforms for ceremonial royal funerals.
The Prince of Wales was awarded the highest rank in all three military services in 2012 and is a Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
The Duke of Cambridge is a patron of the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Coningsby.
The Daily Mail claims that royal officials are also grappling with the issue of what the Duke of Sussex, who served in the British Army for 10 years, should wear, given that he is no longer a working member of the royal family and has consequently lost his military titles, which could mean he is the only senior royal in attendance that is not in uniform. Instead, he would be forced to wear a morning suit with medals.
It will be up to the Queen to decide what everyone wears to the funeral.
A source close to The Duke told The Independent: “The Duke of York is very keenly aware of Saturday’s funeral being a moment for the Duke of Edinburgh, HM and the nation.
“He has neither wish nor intention to distract from that. Speculation on what he may or may not wear is just that, speculation, and no matters of this nature have yet been decided upon.
“The Duke of York will do what is appropriate to the circumstances - he remains stepped back from royal duties.”
