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Prince Harry wears medal 'awarded for service to the monarchy' but still doesn't appear to be wearing the medal given to him at his father's Coronation in apparent snub to Charles

6 months ago 35
  • The Duke of Sussex appeared at the Invictus Games anniversary service  

By Eirian Jane Prosser

Published: 18:01 BST, 8 May 2024 | Updated: 08:08 BST, 9 May 2024

Prince Harry wore a medal that he was awarded by the late Queen for his 'services to the monarchy' today as he arrived for the Invictus Games service at St Paul's.

The Duke of Sussex beamed and waved to veterans as he arrived at the cathedral to celebrate the 10th anniversary of sports competition held annually for injured servicemen and women.

Appearing in a sharp black suit, the King's youngest son wore the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) medal around his neck with a further four pinned onto his blazer.

These included the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, which he was awarded in 2008 after his service in Helmand Province, his Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Yet there was one medal noticeably missing from the estranged royals lapels. In apparent snub to the King, Harry's  Coronation medal given to him and others involved in the King's formal ascension to the throne last May.

Prince Harry wore a medal that he was awarded by the late Queen for his 'services to the monarchy' today as he arrived for the Invictus Games service at St Pauls

Harry's medals (left to right) comprised his Afghanistan service medal as well as Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II

In apparent snub to the King, Harry's Coronation medal given to him and others involved in the King's formal ascension to the throne last May

Harry's KCVO was given to him by Queen Elizabeth in June 2015. It came the same month that the Duke left the army following 10 years of service. 

It is the second time that the Duke has chosen to forgo wearing the coronation medal marking his father's coronation. Last month while handing out an award to a top-performing American soldier it was notably absent. 

Royal experts said that the time that the absence of the medal was an apparent snub to his father after he banned from wearing military dress to the historical Coronation, after stepping down as a senior working member of the royal family.

Harry was one of 400,000 people to have received the Coronation medal as it was given to all those who helped actively contribute to the service at Westminster Abbey.

The emblems were also given to serving members of the armed forces, frontline emergency service personnel and public employed prison service personnel in recognition of their public service.

Living recipients of the George Cross and Victoria Cross were also given the ceremonial honour.

Harry was one of 400,000 people to have received the Coronation medal (pictured) 

Harry's KCVO was given to him by Queen Elizabeth in June 2015. It came the same month that the Duke left the army following 10 years of service

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams claimed that Harry was deliberately seeking to distance himself from his old life as he makes the US his permanent home.

He told Newsweek: 'Those eligible who were involved in the coronation were given a medal.

'The Sussexes do nothing by chance and this clearly emphasises or is intended to emphasise his distance from the royal family.'

And he added to The Sun: 'The Sussexes are well aware that every single thing they do, everything they wear, everything they say, is all going to be examined.

'The problem is that if he chooses not to wear the coronation medal, it will certainly be seen as a snub to King Charles.'

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