Why Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle will wear black veils on the day of the Queen’s funeral

Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are expected to be wearing black veils on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral as part of a long-standing tradition.

Following the monarch's passing on Thursday 8 September, the Queen's coffin has been transported from her Balmoral Estate in Scotland to Buckingham Palace in London.

Today (14 September), the coffin will be moved to Westminster Hall, where it will lie in state until her funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September.

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When attending the funeral next week, members of the royal family will be dressed in special attire for the occasion.

While most men in the royal family will be suited up in their military uniforms, the women are expected to be wearing black lace mourning veils.

The so-called 'mourning veil' is a black face covering that is worn by someone who is mourning a loved one to offer them a layer of protection from the public eye.

Typically they're made of long black tulle or lace, covering the mourner's entire face.

For Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, the ladies in the royal family, like the Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal, wore an understated version of the traditional mourning veil.

Since Queen Elizabeth's passing, all members of the royal family have been dressed in all black, as was made tradition by Queen Victoria, who dressed in black for 40 years after her husband Prince Albert died back in 1861.

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While the women dress in black with their mourning veils at the funeral, all working royals will be wearing their military uniforms.

That means that neither Prince Harry nor Prince Andrew will be dressed in their ceremonial uniforms, despite their military affiliations.

While Prince Harry stepped down as a senior member of the royal family back in 2020, Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal patronages and military affiliations earlier this year due to his alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein's sexual assault case, which he has vehemently denied.

However, an exception has been made for Andrew for the final vigil, and he will be allowed to wear a uniform as a “special mark of respect” for the Queen when he stands guard around her coffin. The same exception has not been made for Prince Harry.

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Confirming that he would only be seen in a suit for the remainder of the royal proceedings following Queen Elizabeth's death, a spokesperson for the Prince Harry stated this week: "[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother.

"His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II".