Harry's Wedding: Military Uniform Significance

Prince Harry's wedding outfit was a Blues and Royals frockcoat uniform, which he wore to honour his old regiment. The uniform was made of blue doeskin and featured a white buckskin belt with sword slings. The Queen gave Prince Harry permission to wear the traditional military uniform, which he accessorised with four medal ribbons and his pilot's wings. Notably, Harry chose to wear a major's uniform instead of a general's, despite his appointment as Captain General of the Royal Marines.

Prince Harry wore a Blues and Royals frockcoat uniform

Prince Harry's wedding outfit was a Blues and Royals frockcoat uniform. The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and part of the Household Cavalry. Prince Harry served as a Captain in The Blues and Royals, and after retiring from active duty in 2015, he received the honorary military title of Major from the Queen, as signified by the crown on his shoulder.

The uniform is a long coat, single-breasted, and made of blue doeskin, a fine satin-weave woollen cloth. The lining is silk, and the coat is closed with hidden hooks instead of buttons. The braid on the sleeves is made of black mohair and is unique to the Household Cavalry and the Life Guards. The Blues and Royals uniform also includes a traditional hat, and a white buckskin belt with sword slings.

Prince Harry requested and received express permission from the Queen to wear the uniform on his wedding day. This was significant because, at the time of his wedding, Prince Harry was no longer a serving officer in the Armed Forces. However, as a member of the Royal Family, he was granted permission to wear the uniform.

He wore four medal ribbons

Prince Harry wore four medal ribbons with his Blues and Royals frockcoat uniform at his wedding to Meghan Markle. The ribbons, from left to right, were: K.C.V.O., Afghanistan with rosette, the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The K.C.V.O. stands for Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, an honour that is awarded by the monarch for personal service. The Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, signified by the Afghanistan ribbon with rosette, was given to Harry for his service in the post-2001 war in Afghanistan. The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal is a gold medal coin imprinted with the Queen's profile, awarded to members of the Army who have served for five years. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, meanwhile, is a nickel silver coin created to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's sixtieth year as Queen. It was awarded to members of the Royal Household and select members of the Armed Forces.

Harry wore his pilot's wings

Prince Harry's wedding outfit was steeped in tradition and military symbolism. The groom wore the Blues and Royals frockcoat uniform, a single-breasted uniform made of blue doeskin, with a white buckskin belt and sword slings. Notably, Harry wore his pilot's wings, signifying his service in the Army Air Corps, where he flew Apache helicopters.

Harry's decision to wear his pilot's wings held significant meaning. The wings were a symbol of his dedication to military service and a testament to his achievements as a qualified helicopter pilot. Harry had completed an eight-month pilot's course at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, graduating in 2010. He earned his wings after successfully passing his final tests, and they were presented to him by his father, Prince Charles, who is now King.

Harry's choice to include his pilot's wings in his wedding attire was a way to honour his military career and the achievements he had made within it. It also served as a reminder of his commitment to serving his country and protecting its people. The wings were a source of pride for Harry and a way to showcase his skills and contributions to the military.

The inclusion of the pilot's wings in Harry's wedding outfit also held a sense of family significance. Flying runs in the family, with Harry's older brother, William, also being a qualified helicopter pilot. Their uncle, Prince Andrew, flew a Royal Navy helicopter during the Falklands War, and Charles qualified as a helicopter pilot in 1974. Harry's military service and his achievement of earning his pilot's wings were a way for him to continue this family tradition and legacy.

The wings added a personal touch to Harry's wedding outfit, making it more than just a uniform. They told a story of his dedication, service, and family heritage, all of which were important aspects of his life leading up to his wedding day.

The Queen gave him permission to wear his beard with the uniform

Prince Harry's wedding outfit was a significant choice for the royal groom. He wore a military uniform, specifically the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, which was notably different from his brother's choice of a red Irish Guards Mounted Officer's uniform at his own wedding in 2011.

The Queen gave Prince Harry permission to wear his military uniform on his wedding day, which also included consenting to him keeping his beard. This was a significant decision as it is customary to be clean-shaven when wearing Army uniform, and Harry was no longer a serving officer.

Harry's beard had caused some debate in the lead-up to the wedding, with royal expert Alastair Bruce commenting that it was unlikely he would wear a uniform as he was no longer a serving officer. However, the dress code on the wedding invitations included "Uniform, Morning Coat, or Lounge Suit," indicating that Harry might wear a uniform.

Harry himself has spoken about the disagreement over his beard, saying that he sought permission from the Queen as Commander-in-Chief of the military, and that while she was amenable, his brother, Prince William, was not. Harry felt that his beard was "the new Harry" and a "shield to my anxiety." He also said that he didn't think his wife, Meghan Markle, would recognise him if he was clean-shaven.

Harry's decision to keep his beard made him the first royal in 125 years to marry with facial hair. The last royal to do so was the Queen's grandfather, George V, who wore a beard when he married Mary of Teck.

Harry's wedding band was made of platinum

Prince Harry's wedding band was made of platinum, breaking with the tradition of Welsh gold usually favoured by the British royal family. Harry's decision to wear a wedding band at all was also a break from tradition, as many British royal men choose not to wear one. Harry's choice of a platinum band was perhaps influenced by his desire for a more modern look, with platinum offering a sleeker, more contemporary aesthetic than the classic gold design.

Harry's wedding band was crafted by court jewellers Cleave and Company, who also created Meghan's engagement ring and wedding band. In contrast to Harry's platinum band, Meghan's wedding ring was made from Welsh gold, gifted by Queen Elizabeth II, continuing a long-standing tradition. The royal family have been using pure Welsh gold for their wedding rings since the Queen Mother's wedding in 1923, with the gold nuggets coming from the Clogau St. David Gold Mine in Dolgellau, Wales.

Harry's choice to wear a wedding band may have been influenced by his father, Prince Charles, who also wears a wedding ring. However, unlike Harry's modern platinum design, Charles' ring is made from classic gold. Interestingly, Prince Charles chooses to wear his wedding band on his pinky finger, alongside his signet ring, while Harry opted for the more traditional ring finger.

The decision to wear a wedding band is a personal preference, and there is no official royal tradition dictating whether male royals should wear one. Harry's brother, Prince William, for example, chose not to wear a wedding ring when he married Kate Middleton in 2011. Instead, the couple exchanged just one ring, in accordance with their wishes.

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