Harry and his wife Meghan Markle made a personal trip to the Los Angeles National Cemetery over the weekend, to honour Remembrance Day and lay a wreath for the fallen. As a veteran who served in the Army for ten years, Harry is exceptionally proud of his time in the military. But after leaving the royal frontline in March, he had to renounce his official military appointments — a compromise with the Firm which reportedly left him devastated.
The rest of the Royal Family also celebrated Remembrance Day by attending their traditional ceremony by the Cenotaph, where members of the Firm who have served lay a wreath.
Reports claim Harry requested for one wreath to be placed on his behalf, as is customary for absent royals.
However, this request was denied without the Queen’s knowledge, leaving the Duke of Sussex “deeply saddened”.
This reported snub has only cemented belief that Harry is further away than ever from reconciling with the Royal Family.
Prince Harry and Prince William last year at the Cenotaph together (Image: Getty)
Harry snub: William and Charles laid a wreath without Harry this year (Image: Getty)
Remembrance Day was also a pivotal moment to show Harry’s progression within the Firm back in 2009, when he first laid a wreath.
At the time, a Palace spokesperson said: “The prince, younger son of Prince Charles, will be standing in for his father, who is on a visit to Canada.
“As a member of the Armed Forces he normally remembers the fallen with his regiment.
“But with the Prince of Wales away, Prince Harry will lay his father’s wreath, complete with the feathers of the Prince of Wales, and a personal handwritten note.”
As he was standing in for his father, Harry took precedence over his older brother William, who, in RAF uniform, laid a wreath of his own immediately afterwards.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle rewarded by Palace during ‘historic’ Remembrance Day
Harry served in the Armed Forces for a decade (Image: Getty)
Harry, William and the Queen at the Cenotaph in 2009 (Image: Getty)
Robert Hardman wrote in The Daily Mail back in 2009: “With Afghanistan on so many minds, it seemed entirely appropriate that Prince Harry, who has actually served there, should be making his debut at the Cenotaph.”
This was not the first time Harry enjoyed being above his older brother in the chain of command, however briefly.
He once revealed how competitive he and his brother are, when discussing the end of his military training in 2005.
The royal said he was “really looking forward to” having William salute him during an interview in honour of his 21st birthday.
Harry said: “It will be very amusing.
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William and Harry both served in the military but Harry was several years ahead in his training (Image: Getty)
The Queen exchanges a smile with Harry while he is on duty (Image: Getty)
Robert Hardman wrote in The Daily Mail back in 2009: “With Afghanistan on so many minds, it seemed entirely appropriate that Prince Harry, who has actually served there, should be making his debut at the Cenotaph.”
This was not the first time Harry enjoyed being above his older brother in the chain of command, however briefly.
He once revealed how competitive he and his brother are, when discussing the end of his military training in 2005.
The royal said he was “really looking forward to” having William salute him during an interview in honour of his 21st birthday.
Harry said: “It will be very amusing.
Harry and Meghan during one of their final royal engagements, Harry is in military dress (Image: Getty)
He has previously explained how he preferred being referred to as ‘Captain Wales’ rather than his royal title of ‘Prince Harry’, showing how strong his bond is to the Army.
Then, when he attended his last military engagement as a royal back in March — at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at London’s Royal Albert Hall — he was reportedly exceptionally sad.
Insiders told : “He told people he regretted having to stand down and pretty much said the decision had been forced on him.
“He was being apologetic and did not appear fully at ease.
“He is a genuine guy and you could see he was upset and emotional as this was one of the last times he would be in uniform among his men and women.”
‘Harry: Conversations with the Prince’ by Angela Levin was published by John Blake Publishing Ltd in 2018 and is available here.
