Prince Harry will be viewing his decision to quit as a senior royal with “deep regret” today as it meant he could not publicly mark the country’s war dead at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
Longstanding royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the Duke of Sussex would have found the service difficult to watch, owing to his own military links.
He told Express.co.uk: “The military will always be an important part of Prince Harry’s life and, however he may pretend to the contrary, he must be deeply conflicted.”
Harry served in the Army for 10 years, including two tours of Aghanistan, but when he quit as a senior royal he was subsequently stripped of his military titles and patronages.
This means he is unable to wear military uniform at royal events, such as the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral last September.
Mr Fitzwilliams said this would have been a kick in the teeth, saying: “He saw 10 years service in the army including two tours of duty in Afghanistan, where he acquitted himself extremely well. He founded the Invictus Games in 2014, which was universally acclaimed as a brilliant idea, to help wounded, injured or sick serving men and women and veterans.
“So when, at the Queen’s Funeral, he could not salute as he was not in uniform as he was no longer a working royal, it must have rankled, but it was his choice. He also lost his military patronages which he valued so much.”
Harry’s uncle Prince Andrew was also unable to wear military uniform despite his 22 years in the Royal Navy, as he too is no longer a working member of the Firm. He was also noticeably absent from the Remembrance Sunday service today.
The expert added: “There is irony in the fact that both Prince Harry’s and Prince Andrew served in combat, but are unable to wear uniform as they are not active royals.
“However, given their behaviour, there are unfortunately good reasons for this. Harry should also not have revealed the number of Taliban he personally killed during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan in his memoir, Spare.”
Mr Fitzwilliams expects the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to mark Remembrance Sunday in their own way, as they have done since moving to the US.
Last year Harry visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, in 2021 they visited an Air Force Base in New Jersey and in 2020 they went to a military crematorium in LA.
He said: “Harry and Meghan have, in recent years, commemorated this special weekend in their own way, with activities linked to the military.
“Yet given Harry’s upbringing and the importance which he attaches to the code that those who have served are always part of the military family, he cannot but view what has happened with very deep regret, especially today, when he was absent at the Cenotaph once again.”
