Yesterday’s royal wedding saw many breaks from tradition, including Prince Harry decision to sport a beard, the first royal to do so in 125 years.
The groom was given special permission from the Queen, his grandmother, to wear facial hair while in military uniform.
The last royal to do so was George V, the son of Queen Victoria and Harry’s great-great grandfather. He wore a beard during his wedding to Princess Mary of Teck in 1893.
Prince Harry sports a beard as the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex ride in an Ascot Landau after their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle
The last royal to wear a beard on his wedding day was George V, the son of Queen Victoria and Harry’s great-great grandfather
As it is customary to be clean-shaven when dressed in Army uniform, the groom was expected to have shaved prior to his wedding ceremony yesterday.
Both the newly-appointed Duke of Sussex and his brother and best man the Duke of Cambridge wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals during the Prince’s wedding to former Suits actress Meghan.
In a statement, Kensington Palace said: ‘Her Majesty The Queen gave her permission for Prince Harry to get married in his uniform.’
Harry needed permission to sport a beard while wearing military uniform, which was granted by the Queen
It is understood that the permission covered the fact that Harry has a beard.
Historian Hugo Vickers said the permission may also have been granted because Harry has retired from active service.
British Army rules do not usually allow beards, except in rare circumstances, such as because of skin complaints, or for religious reasons.
Pioneer Sergeants are the only rank allowed to have a beard, although members of the Special Forces can when behind enemy lines.
Prince Harry is, however, no longer a serving officer and therefore military rules may not apply to him.
A bearded royal groom is a rarity, and none of the current Royal Family sported facial hair on their own wedding days.
The newly-appointed Duke of Sussex, who is not clean-shaven, with his bride Meghan Markle, make their way in an Ascot Landau carriage after their ceremony in Windsor Castle
Harry wore his military uniform to the wedding and broke protocol by keeping his beard
But the Queen’s grandfather, George V, wore a beard when he married Mary of Teck.
Mr Vickers said: ‘Theoretically the Army don’t like it which is why at one point he took the Salute at Sandhurst in a suit.’
In December, Harry wore a dark suit and overcoat, with medals on the outside, when he represented the Queen and inspected graduating officer cadets at the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in Surrey.
‘But on the other hand if you think back to King George V, who had a beard, obviously he was Admiral of the Fleet but he was also a Field Marshall and he often wore Army uniform with a beard,’ Mr Vickers added.
The prince showed off his beard as he made the royal procession through the Berkshire town with his new bride, now the Duchess of Sussex
Both Prince Harry and Prince William wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry of the British Army
‘I think if you’ve retired from the Army you probably do need somebody’s permission to wear your old uniform.
‘But I think the statement covers all those possibilities.’
The Duke of Sussex’s uniform revealed that some time after leaving the Army in 2015 he was promoted to the rank of major, an honour that was bestowed by the Queen.
The prince wore a frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals ranked to major, with large gold embroidered crowns.
The newlyweds smile as they travel through Windsor. In one of many breaks from tradition, the groom wore a beard to the wedding
It is the Queen’s prerogative that senior members of the royal family are promoted in line with their peers because they hold royal military appointments.
Prince Harry left the forces in June 2015 and was first spotted with a beard in September the same year.
He had a beard when he wore a military dress coat at the Cenotaph last November, which prompted criticism from some quarters.
What did Prince Harry and Prince William wear to the Royal wedding?
Both Prince Harry and Prince William wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry of the British Army.
Her Majesty The Queen gave her permission for Prince Harry to get married in his uniform. They were both made by Dege & Skinner on Savile Row.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry was dressed in the uniform of the Blues and Royals
The frockcoat is made from blue doeskin. It is single-breasted in style with a stand-up collar, complete with figured braiding of Regimental pattern.
The uniform was cut and made by hand.
The sleeve pattern is intricate in detail and took one person one week to complete.
The frockcoat is ranked to Major with large gold embroidered crowns.
The badge on the left chest is Pilots’ Wings attained whilst serving with the Army Air Corps for flying Apache helicopters.
The four medal ribbons below the Wings are, from left to right: K.C.V.O., Afghanistan with rosette, The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The trousers, officially called ‘overalls’, are made from a blue and black wool barathea and are fastened by a leather strap and buckle underneath the boot. They would have traditionally been worn on horseback.
The hat is a Blues and Royals Forage Cap (No.1 Dress cap). There is a white buckskin waist belt with Regimental buckle and slings but no sword.
The Duke of Cambridge
Prince William wore the same uniform with the addition of the hold Aiguillette on his right shoulder
Prince William wore the same uniform as the Groom, also to the Rank of Major.
The Wings are those attained flying helicopters whilst serving with the RAF, the two medals below from left to right are: Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The Duke of Cambridge is also wearing the Garter Star.
As an Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen, The Duke sported the EIIR cyphers on his shoulder straps along with a gold Aiguillette on his right shoulder.
Dege & Skinner
Dege & Skinner made the uniforms for Their Royal Highnesses when they were commissioned into the Blues and Royals, a moment captured on canvas by Nicky Philipps in her double portrait, which currently hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Source: Kensington Palace