Removing E:R from Harry’s Uniform

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I am certainly not one of H&M’s fans but I think that for someone to actually remove the ER initials from his military uniform for the vigil was beyond petty.

The decision was made to allow him to wear a military uniform, fine, Andrew was also given permission but to take the time and trouble to remove the Queen’s initials from the epaulettes was, I think, really childish. I know he has chosen to not be a working Royal but the initals were left on Andrew’s epaulettes so why were Harry’s removed?

Apart from anything else, this will just add grist to the mill of H&M’s litany of complaints but for once, I think they’d be justified in being upset by this.

Expect I’ll be flamed for this and there are many more important things going on in the world but I do think this was a snotty thing to do to Harry.

Dear lord, do people not realise that most of what's reported in the press is made up bollocks? It's always "sources" and "palace insiders" and other non-attributed founts of knowledge. Click bait headlines to draw in the punters.

I've no clue about the uniforms and none of us know if Harry was really upset - but I can imagine that seeing it removed was one of those gut punch moments for him given the week that's in it with emotions high. If it hadn't crossed his mind he may have had a shock seeing the ER removed. Presumably it was a proud moment for him when it was added.

Given he was wearing a uniform he wasn't entitled to, and given the purpose of wearing it, I think consideration should have been given to leaving the ER in place.

If there is any truth in this that is, every chance he didn't care and was fully expecting it.

This ^

We cross posted but this sums everything up nicely.

Harry resigned as an ADC, so whoever prepared his uniform for him was following the rules. I would expect a former military officer to know this. But either somebody is leaking to the press, or journalists are making stuff up (although Roya Nikkah is usually pretty good). Either way, it's a bit of a distraction from more important matters.

@FGSWhatNow great name!

It's actually getting funny now. Harry HIMSELF issued a statement saying his years of service matter to him more than what he wears, and asked that the focus be where it belongs, on The Queen.

Yet here are people ready to believe that he went "bleating" as one poster puts it, to the Daily Mail, a tabloid he loathes, about two missing letters on his uniform.

It's comical that grown women are so willing to suspend critical thinking and be so easily manipulated!

Can nobody see that this is what the RF are like!

And actually feelings are more important than protocol sometimes.

Sometimes that may well be true for many in civilian life but that's rarely the case in the military....goes with the territory etc...

What's grinding a lot of gears with veterans is that just like them Harry must know the protocols with regard to the wearing of uniform by junior officers who have resigned, he must know how those protocols relate to wearing of uniform, insignia and facial hair 🙄but suddenly (if rumours/leaks are to be believed) he thinks they shouldn't apply to him.

I thought this story started in the Sunday Times?

RF can't win. If they stick to the rules they're accused of being petty, and the other alternative is to just let them have all the perks of working royals without putting in the work, and still complain.

It would be more respectful to The Queen and the process of her state funeral operations if all parties involved put aside their petty grievances and entitlement and just stopped with all this nonsense, including using intermediaries or sources to brief the press.

I've seen it reported that all members of her family, particularly Charles and his sons, want the focus to be on her, and want to avoid press headlines about other things like family 'tensions'. This doesn't seem to be reflected in what is actually happening.

I've little time for the privilege and entitlement inherent in any Monarchy, but a ridiculously privileged and cosseted Prince moaning about epulettes or whether they (and I include Andrew in this) get to wear a ceremonial uniform on the world stage, really drives home the difference in the types of 'problems' these people think they have to be 'devastated' about.

It doesn't come across as mean, it's protocol. Protocol does come before feelings. It's also not for the RF to have to tread carefully so as not to upset H&M, if that was the case, it portrays H&M to be bullies.

That they follow protocol and it's nothing to do with being petty, yes I can see that.

Idk if PH is upset or not. I see this as his father giving him special dispensation to wear the uniform whilst still honouring HMQ’s wishes. PH was no longer her ADC as per @Serenster ’s explanation (thank you Serenster).

To me this is about a father’s love for his son and a son’s love and respect for his mother. I think the King is in a very difficult situation.

Yes it was probably done when titles were removed & he stepped away permanently.

Oh FFS. Does he never stop complaining? The sense of entitlement is incredible.
Have no feelings on any of them but tbh if I had had the week he’d had, where he basically had to ask his father for permission to do nearly anything while mourning his granny, Id think at this stage I’d be ready to burst!! All this pomp, etiquette and expectations crap makes me very glad I’m not rich or royal!!!

What would protocol dictate that he wears tomorrow?

Exactly. The ‘journalists’ at the DM are at least surely capable of reading the Times article and regurgitating it, even if no one spoke directly to them and the scoop was made by the Times.

I've just read the original piece in the Sunday Times. It's part of a wider story about the up/down relationship between Harry and William and is fairly balanced. I don't believe that a paper like that had no actual sources, but nor do I think that it came from Harry and Meghan.

Good point. King Charles has been so busy. He may not even have been aware of this and probably wouldn’t have been able to make a decision on reattaching the ER or not.

Has he complained?

This sounds more like a deliberate shit stirring complete non story to keep H and M in the headlines

It seems incredibly petty, but then that is their MO.

I amazed at how many of you are taking the Daily sodding Mail as gospel! Are you always this gullible?

He isn’t entitled to wear the military uniform.

There's a big part of me that feels such empathy for Harry.

Hear me out

He was born into a situation where he was always the second best- the spare to the heir. His lower place in the pecking order was something he would never be able to undo. We often read threads here about the damaging impact of being the sibling of a golden child and the dynamics reflect this situation.

That's not to say I agree with a lot of his behaviour - just I can see where it stemmed from.

His father was the direct heir so that automatically meant his dad and brother had something in common.

He then lost his mum who was the one who he had on his side. I also don't agree with a lot of her behaviour but as far as Harry was concerned she was his rock and constant and the one he had the stuff in common with.

They became a family of 3 heavily supported by his grandmother - the queen. He was very close to his grandfather though. (Seeing the theme?)

So everything that happens to remind him he's not equal is another thing that reminds him of his unequal position due to birth.

I believe (although I have no proof of this obviously!) that that is why the Queen changed this status quo for when Charlotte was born. She saw the damage this positioning children could do (and perhaps saw that Anne would have made a much better Queen than Andrew would king!) and wanted to end it.

The whole dynamics of the RF and their birthright positions and related wealth is something they grow up knowing.

But as they say - money doesn't buy you happiness.

And I also think this continual need to make more and more money indicates that Harry still isn't a happy man.