PRINCE Andrew and Prince Harry will receive Platinum Jubilee medals from the Queen after all – despite being ineligible.
The Dukes are not eligible to receive medals marking the Queen’s 70 years on the throne through their military affiliations after they were stripped by the Queen.
But the Queen, 95, is set to privately fund commemorative gongs for the Royal Family, as she does on all past jubilee occasions.
This means Harry, 37, and Andrew, 61, are spared the embarrassment and the medals will be a private gift from the monarch.
Royal sources say in common with previous Queen’s Jubilee years it is “likely” that wider members of the family will receive the gong.
The medals will be distributed to “both working and non-working” family members such as Harry and Andrew, sources say.
This also means Meghan Markle is eligible to get a Platinum Jubilee medal along with other non-working members of the family.
Graham Smith, CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, said: “I think people would be surprised to see Andrew getting anything at all.
“I think it’s pretty poor judgement to think people are going to want to see him acknowledged in any way whatsoever.
“This medal which means nothing to us but it will mean something to him and I think the fact that he’s being awarded it will probably upset people who find the whole case against him deeply unpleasant and unsettling.”
The Platinum Jubilee medals are set to be awarded to serving members of the Armed Forces, police, fire, emergency and prison services on Feb 6.
The gongs, which is made of nickel silver, feature an image of the Queen with the Latin inscription “Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fid Def”, which stands for “Elizabeth II, By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith”.
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers told the Express newspaper that even Wallis Simpson, the widow of the former king the Duke of Windsor, received a Silver Jubilee medal in 1977.
Mr Vickers said: “I asked and was told, ‘She was entitled to it so she was sent one’.”
The Duke of York was effectively banished last week after being summoned to Windsor for an emotional summit with the Queen.
It comes as he fights a civil sex abuse case against accuser Virginia Giuffre.
Andrew vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
He first stepped back from public life back in November 2019 over his relationship with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
A statement released by the Palace revealed he will never again return to the royal frontline, and is to defend the case as a private citizen.
The Duke had a 22-year career in the Royal Navy, and served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War. He also commanded the mine countermeasures vessel HMS Cottesmore.
His nephew Harry gave up his three honorary titles following his decision to step back as a working royal and move to the US with wife Meghan in 2020.
He was reportedly left deeply upset by the loss of the roles, which included Captain General of the Royal Marines – a title previously held by Prince Philip.
The Duke of Sussex served in the Army for a decade, rising to the rank of captain and completing two tours of Afghanistan.
