Prince in apparent snub to father as he shuns Coronation medal
THE Duke of Sussex appears to have snubbed his father by opting not to wear his Coronation medal alongside others as he presented a military award.
Prince Harry wore four medals to record a video in his California home honouring a soldier, but the one featuring effigies of the King and Queen was notably absent. His spokesman declined to comment on why he did not wear the Coronation medal that is believed to have been awarded to him on his father’s accession last year.
The medal, made of nickel silver, was given to 400 recipients involved in the Coronation ceremonies and processions as well as serving members of the Armed Forces and emergency service workers. Similarly, the Prince did not wear the medal when he delivered a video monologue for Stand Up For Heroes in New York last November.
Relations between the Duke and the King remain strained, although are believed to have improved
In February, the King, 75, contacted both of his sons to tell them of his cancer diagnosis.
Prince Harry, who was at home in Montecito, made immediate plans to fly over to see him, prompting hopes of a rapprochement after a turbulent few years in which the pair have barely spoken.
In the event, the pair spent barely 30 minutes together at Clarence House before the King flew to Sandringham and the Duke returned to the US.
The Duke had not seen his father since the Coronation, when they barely had time to speak. He arrived in London the day before the May 6 ceremony and headed straight to the airport from Westminster Abbey, via a quick vehicle change, having spent just 28 hours in the country.
The Duke wore a dark suit and tie to record a video message for his friend, Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, from Arizona, who was named a Soldier of the Year at an award ceremony hosted by the Military Times.
Pinned to his chest were his Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, his Golden Jubilee Medal, Diamond Jubilee Medal and Platinum Jubilee Medal.
The Duke first met SFC Marks at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando and said he was “honoured” to call her his friend.
The five-time Paralympic medalist, 33, suffered bilateral hip injuries whilst serving in Iraq in 2010. In 2017, her left leg was amputated below the knee.
The Duke said the soldier’s “unwavering commitment serves as a beacon of inspiration, offering hope and setting a powerful example for others to follow.”