Harry in Hawaii! Duke of Sussex made a solo surprise appearance

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared a photo of themselves attending a military service in The Hague in April to mark Remembrance weekend – as the Duke was spotted solo at Pearl Harbor wearing a poppy.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the previously unseen photograph from their visit to the Invictus Games in the Hague in April on their official Archewell website. While it is not clear which event they were attending, it appears to be a ceremony which took place on the first day of the event. 

The image was released as Prince Harry surprised onlookers with the trip to the USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu. He cut a relaxed figure with an unbuttoned top collar and a casual blue suit, with a poppy pinned to his lapel. 

The royal, who was without his wife Meghan Markle, 41, and their children Archie and Lilibet, spent time talking to the families who were also visiting the memorial on that day.

Photographs of his visit were later shared online by royal fans, who commented it ‘looked like the Duke was there for Veteran’s Day’.

Harry served in the military for a decade and had two tours of Afghanistan. He has also organised the Invictus Games for wounded and injured service members and veterans since 2014.

He is no longer permitted to wear military dress, however, after being stripped of the right when he left the Royal Family, but is still permitted to wear the medals he earned – although he wasn’t wearing them for this outing. 

Since quitting royal duties in January 2020, Prince Harry has been left to mark Remembrance Day independently.  

In 2020, the couple who are now based in California following Megxit, ‘personally recognised’ Remembrance Day by visiting the Los Angeles National cemetery to pay their respects to fallen Commonwealth soldiers, while last year they made a surprise visit to a New Jersey military base.

But the pair came under fire for arranging for a photographer to capture their personal act of Remembrance in 2020, being criticised for enlisting Lee Morgan to release pictures from the moment.

At the time, Harry was said to be upset that he’d been refused permission for a wreath to be laid at the Cenotaph on his behalf because he was no longer a working royal.   

To mark this year’s occasion, Harry and Meghan also shared a photograph showing them in front of military personnel for Veterans Day and Remembrance Day.

In a statement posted to their Archewell Foundation website, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘We honour servicemembers across the world. These brave men and women, as well as their families, have made tremendous sacrifices and embody duty and service.’

The statement continued: ‘We are proud to work with so many organizations that support veterans and military families, including: The Invictus Games Foundation, The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, Scotty’s Little Soldiers and The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation. Today and every day, thank you for your service.’

The image shared this year, taken by their wedding photographer Chris Allerton, appears to have been captured at The Hague in April during the Invictus Games.

Meanwhile Harry also sent a highly personal letter to bereaved children of members of the British Armed Forces claiming they share a bond due to having lost a parent.

In a note to members of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity for bereaved British Forces children and young people, the Duke of Sussex said they are all in his ‘thoughts and heart’ on Remembrance Sunday and reminded them: ‘You are not alone.’

© Provided by Daily Mail
His latest visit came as members of the royal family came together at the cenotaph for a poignant and moving Remembrance Sunday (pictured, Charles and William)

© Provided by Daily Mail
Queen Camilla and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall (pictured)

Harry said one of the ways he has personally learned to cope has been ‘through community and talking about my grief’.

His letter comes as two members of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, ages 8 and 14, shared how Remembrance Day helps them feel connected to their late fathers.

The organisation, which has a long-standing relationship with Harry, says they are grateful for his ‘continued support.

The Duke of Sussex, in his later dated November 13, told the children they are in his ‘thoughts and heart’ this Remembrance Sunday.

‘We share a bond even without ever meeting one another, because we share in having lost a parent,’ Harry wrote.

‘I know first-hand the pain and grief that comes with loss and want you to know that you are not alone.

‘While difficult feelings will come up today as we pay tribute to heroes like your mum or dad, I hope you can find comfort and strength in knowing that their love for you lives and shines on.

‘Whenever you need a reminder of this, I encourage you to lean into your friends at Scotty’s Little Soldiers.

‘One of the ways I’ve learned to cope has been through community and talking about my grief, and I couldn’t be more grateful and relieved that you have amazing people walking beside you throughout your journey.

‘We all know some days are harder than others, but together those days are made easier.’

He added: ‘Today and every day, I admire and respect all the men and women who have given their lives in service of us – especially those in your family.

‘I am also incredibly proud of you for being the best example in remembering them.’

In previous years, the duke has marked the day with visits to the Cenotaph and Westminster Abbey’s Field of Remembrance – he first attended the cenotaph in 2009 aged 25.

However since Megxit, he has marked the day in a number of different ways.  

Last year, Meghan and Harry attended a glamorous gala in New York City to celebrate the military on the eve of Veterans Day in the US and Armistice Day in Britain.

In November 2020, the couple visited Los Angeles National cemetery, where they laid flowers they had picked from their own garden at two graves, one for those who had served in the Royal Australian Air Force and one for soldiers from the Royal Canadian Artillery.

They also placed a wreath at an obelisk in the cemetery that features a plaque inscribed ‘In Memory of the Men Who Offered Their Lives In Defence Of Their Country’. 

At the time, it was said Harry had been refused permission for a wreath to be laid at the Cenotaph on his behalf. The Duke was said to have made the personal request to Buckingham Palace following Megxit.

At the time, the Queen was not thought to have been informed of the request or its refusal, which is said to have ‘deeply saddened’ the Duke of Sussex, the Times said. 

It later emerged that Harry’s wreath was made at the Royal British Legion’s Kent HQ for £1,000, but lay there forgotten.

A spokesman for the RBL told Mail Online Royal wreaths are made in advance of the Remembrance period and ‘not to specific requests, then stored for later use.’

A spokesman for the couple said: ‘It was important to the duke and duchess to be able to personally recognise Remembrance in their own way, to pay tribute to those who have served and to those who gave their lives,’ a statement said.

‘The couple laid flowers that the duchess picked from their garden at the gravesites of two commonwealth soldiers, one who had served in the Royal Australian Air Force and one from the Royal Canadian Artillery.’

The statement said they also placed a wreath at an obelisk in the cemetery.

‘The duke signed a message with the wreath saying: “To all of those who have served, and are serving. Thank you”.’

People close to Harry defended the prince, saying that the Duke’s military family ‘is one of the most important things to him and always will be.’ 

Those close to the father-of-two said he was not the sort of person to make a stunt out of a Remembrance event, particularly having personally known fellow service personnel who died. 

Prince Harry has previously emphasised the importance of Remembrance Sunday during an appearance on a military podcast to mark the event in 2020. 

On the interview with the Declassified podcast, he described the day as ‘a moment for respect and for hope’.

The former royal said: ‘The act of remembering, of remembrance, is a profound act of honour. It’s how we preserve the legacies of entire generations and show our gratitude for the sacrifices they made in order for us to be able to live the lives we live today.’ 

His latest visit came as members of the royal family came together at the cenotaph for a poignant and moving Remembrance Sunday. 

The Queen, who died nine weeks ago at the age of 96, considered Remembrance Sunday, which commemorates the war dead, one of the most significant and important engagements in the royal calendar. 

She first laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in 1945 when she was still a princess. The nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who lived through the Second World War as a teenager and was head of the armed forces, only missed seven Cenotaph services during her reign, including in 2021 due to a back sprain. 

King Charles III led his first Remembrance Sunday event as monarch, laying a wreath in tribute to UK and Commonwealth war dead in a sombre service that saw a gun salute, bugle calls and a touching tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

As king and commander-in-chief of British forces, Charles was the first to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in remembrance of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Two minutes’ silence were observed after Big Ben tolled 11 times, marking the resumption of full operations for the newly restored Great Clock in the nearby Houses of Parliament.

Cannon fire marked the beginning and end of the silence, culminating in buglers playing the Last Post in front of the Cenotaph, before UK politicians and Commonwealth ambassadors laid their own wreaths.

A short service followed the laying of the main wreaths, with the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, delivering a prayer. 

The King and members of the royal family then sang the hymn O God, Our Help in Ages Past as thousands filled Whitehall.

Around 10,000 veterans marched past the Cenotaph today, including 400 who fought in the Falklands War 40 years ago.

The Remembrance Sunday ceremony had added poignancy this year given the anniversary of the Falklands War, the Queen’s death and the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile a factory which displays the wreaths has removed Harry’s tributes.

Wreaths from other royals are still on show, while those of the Duke of Sussex and his uncle Prince Andrew are now out of view.

The Poppy Factory, based in Richmond, south west London, was founded 100 years ago to make wreaths and poppies to honour fallen soldiers. It had previously showcased Harry’s £1,000 wreath, The Mirror reports.

A source at the site said: ‘Harry used to have his wreath on display in the centre’s old exhibiting area, but it isn’t any more. 

‘We’ve got rid of it – and all the duplicates we kept too.’

But in a statement, a spokesperson for The Poppy Factory said: ‘The Poppy Factory underwent a complete redevelopment in 2020, including the creation of a new visitor centre, which has allowed us to bring the story of our factory community to life in our centenary year. 

‘The display of Royal wreaths in the visitor centre is unchanged since it was formally opened by Our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen Consort, in November 2021.

‘We will make changes to the exhibition in due course, to reflect changes made to the wreaths following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We are proud of our continued role in creating and maintaining Remembrance wreaths for all working members of The Royal Family.’

It comes following claims that the King is keeping a close eye on Prince Harry’s autobiography and a Netflix series starring himself and his wife Meghan.

Royal author Tom Bower said: ‘He has made various threats and warned they will find themselves ostracised in a way they cannot believe.’

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