He had a decade-long career in the Army where he would have been told countless times that a smart uniform is crucial.
But Prince Harry could be accused of letting some of his standards slip as he turned up to a meeting with 45 veterans on Thursday without wearing a tie.
Prince Harry attends reception for Normandy Veterans
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The Prince, who was wearing a blue suit and open neck shirt for the outing, was called out on his choice of attire by a D-Day veteran as he joined the group at Southwick House, near Portsmouth, ahead of the anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
He is said to have initially realised he was under-dressed after arriving at the event, asking John Phipps, founder of the D-Day Revisited charity: "Are they all wearing ties in there? I should have worn a tie. Oh well, it's too late now."
Ivor Anderson, a 91-year-old
sapper in the 591 Para Squadron Royal Engineers, later jokingly told him
off as he asked: “Where’s your bloody tie?”.
The Prince, who qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander during his time in the Army, replied: "I was told not to wear a tie and then you all turn up wearing ties, I feel under-dressed."
Afterwards, Mr Anderson, from Salford, Manchester, said: "I told him he should wear a bloody tie. I said I had a spare one, he said he couldn't wear mine because he didn't have his wings." A pair of wings is the emblem on badges handed to qualified military parachutists.
Mr Anderson was making his fourth return trip to the D-Day beaches. "The first time I went back over was about 1950 on a motorbike," he said. "It's very sad at times. Especially now because all of my unit are gone. They're all dead."
The Prince, who qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander during his time in the Army, replied: "I was told not to wear a tie and then you all turn up wearing ties, I feel under-dressed."
Afterwards, Mr Anderson, from Salford, Manchester, said: "I told him he should wear a bloody tie. I said I had a spare one, he said he couldn't wear mine because he didn't have his wings." A pair of wings is the emblem on badges handed to qualified military parachutists.
Mr Anderson was making his fourth return trip to the D-Day beaches. "The first time I went back over was about 1950 on a motorbike," he said. "It's very sad at times. Especially now because all of my unit are gone. They're all dead."
During the visit, the Prince also
spent time meeting veterans including John Dennett, from Wallasey,
Wirral, and Frank Diffell, from Melksham, Wiltshire, who are both 91.
He said to them: "I have so much respect for you guys - running off a boat on to those beaches."
He said to them: "I have so much respect for you guys - running off a boat on to those beaches."
Prince Harry on his grandmother, being an uncle and having kids of his own
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The Prince then wished them well
on their trip to France for the commemorations and added: "Don't get
into trouble and if you do, don't get caught."
D-Day Revisited has been organising trips for the annual pilgrimage to France for D-Day veterans since 2008, providing medical support as many of the retired servicemen get older and less mobile.
D-Day Revisited has been organising trips for the annual pilgrimage to France for D-Day veterans since 2008, providing medical support as many of the retired servicemen get older and less mobile.
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