How CAN Wills and Harry put rugby before the fallen?

TODAY is arguably the most important date of our nation’s calendar. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of November, we always hold a two-minute silence to mark the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom.

This evening, the Queen will attend the British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. The Duke of Edinburgh will be there too at 96, along with Charles and Camilla, Andrew and Edward.

Hard-working Anne is flying in specially from an Armistice Day service at Ypres in Belgium.

But what about William and Harry? Why are they not listed among the Royal party showing their respect for the fallen at the Royal Albert Hall?

William’s one listed engagement today is watching Wales take on Australia at rugby in Cardiff. Prince Harry will be cheering on England as they play Argentina at Twickenham.

I have the greatest admiration for the work William has done for those suffering from mental illness. Harry has done marvels with his inspirational Invictus Games helping disabled soldiers.

And, to be fair, Wills is sending pregnant Kate along to the Albert Hall tonight, while Harry did his bit laying a wooden cross at Westminster Abbey’s Field of Remembrance on Thursday. Yet I am afraid this just isn’t good enough. If they chose the rugby over a commemoration event for fallen soldiers, it still sends out the message they are not taking their Royal duties seriously.

For let there be no doubt, the Queen believes that honouring our fallen is the most sacred of royal duties. She has always led the country’s Remembrance Day commemorations, laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in London.

Only five times in her 65-year reign has she failed to do so — three times when she was abroad, and twice when she was expecting Andrew and then Edward. Tomorrow for the first time she will be watching from a balcony as Prince Charles lays the wreath.

At 91, she’s delegating responsibilities to younger Royals. And yet whenthey are needed, Wills and Harry head off to the rugby. There’s a chance they may turn up at the Albert Hall but it’s a very slim one.

My grandfather, Charles — or Pop as I called him — was 37 and married with five children in a dirt-poor timber town in the Australian bush when he enlisted to fight for this country in World War II. He would have been just as appalled as I am at how these pampered young Princes appear to value rugby over remembrance.