Prince Harry stirred controversy by wearing his own four medals while presenting an award to US combat medic, Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks.
The Duke of Sussex, a former British Army member, joined the “Soldier of the Year” award ceremony via Zoom from his Montecito mansion. He adorned his jacket with medals, including one from his military service in Afghanistan and three from Queen Elizabeth II.
However, observers noted the absence of the Coronation medal, awarded to participants at King Charles’ coronation last May, leading to speculation of a deliberate snub towards his father, as noted by royal analyst Richard FitzWilliams.
Despite backlash over his choice of attire, Prince Harry focused on honoring Marks’ achievements during his address, avoiding discussion about his own medals.
Critics took to social media to condemn Harry’s decision, questioning why an American veteran wasn’t chosen for the presentation and deriding his medals as a bid for attention.
Yet, some supporters defended Harry, asserting his entitlement to wear the medals given his service, particularly his deployments to Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.
In the midst of the debate, Prince Harry’s actions continue to spark discussion about his role and relationship with the royal family.
