Harry’s subtle snub to royal family? Prince doesn’t wear Coronation medal given to him by King Charles to present ‘Soldier of the Year’ award – after previously dropping it in message to US veterans last year

Prince Harry appeared to forego wearing the medal marking his father’s coronation as he handed out an award to a top-performing American soldier, according to eagle-eyed royal observers.

The Duke of Sussex wore an assortment of medals on his jacket as he named combat medic Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks the Military Times Soldier of the Year, including three marking his grandmother’s various Jubilees this century.

Notably absent from the 39-year-old’s lapels, however, was the Coronation medal given to him and others who were involved in King Charles’ formal ascension to the throne last May – which was also absent from a video filmed late last year.

Royal experts believe the absence of the honour could be a snub to his father. The medals also match those Harry chose to wear as he attended the Coronation.

Harry was not allowed to attend last May’s festivities in military dress after stepping back from royal duties; that privilege is reserved for working members of the family.

The medals appear to be the same ones he wore to his father King Charles III’s coronation in May last year

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

King Charles III pictured on his Coronation day in May last year. Royal experts believe the omission of the Coronation medal may have been a snub

The Coronation medal features an effigy of King Charles and Queen Camilla on the front (left) and the royal cypher, CIIIR (Charles III Rex), on the rear

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested the absence of the medal could be a deliberate snub to King Charles III

But he is thought to have been one of the 400,000 recipients of the Coronation medal, which was coined for those who actively contributed to the Coronation ceremonies in Westminster Abbey and other processions.

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.

The absence of the medal on Harry’s chest, reported by Newsweek and The Sun, suggested to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams that he was deliberately seeking to distance himself from his old life as he makes the US his permanent home.

Commentator Mr Fitzwilliams 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.’

Representatives for the Duke of Sussex declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. 

The Coronation medal bears an effigy of King Charles and Queen Camilla looking to the side on its front, and the King’s cypher, CIIIR (Charles III Rex), on its rear.

In the video Harry wore his Operational Service medal given to him for his time in the armed forces in Helmand province.

He also wore the three jubilee medals cast to celebrate his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.

He is thought to have worn the medals to show his affinity for the military, which played a key part in his early life as a senior working royal, when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 and again in 2012. 

Like other recent appearances by the Duke, his presentation of the Soldier of the Year award appeared to be heavily stage managed – with Harry delivering a pre-recorded message from the back door of his Montecito mansion. 

He paid tribute to Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks – who he described as a ‘friend’ and a ‘beacon of inspiration’ – as he congratulated her on the prize.

Four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist SFC Marks, 33, suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq in 2010, after joining up aged just 17.

Four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, 33, (pictured) suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq in 2010, after joining up aged just 17

SFC Marks competed for Team United States at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (pictured)

She also picked up meals at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 (pictured winning Gold in the Women’s 100m breaststroke)

Harry also opted not to wear his Coronation medal as he gave a gag-filled monologue at the Stand Up for Heroes event for US veterans last November

The audience at Stand Up For Heroes in New York last night to watch Prince Harry’s address, which was packed with gags 

Harry told the ceremony: ‘I first met Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks at the Invictus Games in Orlando 2016, where I presented her with not one, but four gold medals that she’d won in swimming. 

‘To me, she epitomises the courage, resilience and determination represented across our service community. And this is not just because of her swimming abilities.

‘Ellie has courageously overcome every obstacle to cross her path. She has turned her pain into purpose and led through compassion and willpower, showing others that the impossible is indeed possible.

‘Despite the injuries she endured during her deployment as a medical assistant in Iraq – along with numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many – she has persevered tirelessly, becoming the first woman in the Army’s world-class athlete program as well as the first swimmer the program had ever seen.

‘She’s also taken her recovery a step further, using her experiences and achievements to inspire and assist others in their mental and physical journey into sport, ensuring those who can’t see a way out or through are introduced to the medicine of sport that saved her too.’

SFC Marks used her speech to issue a plea for better mental health support for military veterans after they have finished their service. 

She said: ‘I wanna say thank you to the people that failed me. I wanna say thank you to the individuals in leadership positions who showed me what not to become. 

‘Without you I wouldn’t have the perspective and empathy to see service members as they deserve.

‘Too often we treat those who ask for help as villains. We forget our promises made, and because of those things suicide is the leading cause of death within our ranks.

‘Suicide isn’t killing our people. Neglect is. There will never be a rank, a medal or an accolade that means more to me than the lives I couldn’t save.’

She added: ‘We’re failing each other, before and after service. We have to do better.’

Harry did not wear the Coronation medal last year as he filmed a gag-filled monologue for the Stand Up for Heroes show in November – an annual variety show held in support of US veterans.

Harry was in good spirits as he poked fun at himself during the clip show and joked about people with ginger hair like himself being an ‘endangered species’.

The speech, which also appeared to be filmed from his Montecito mansion, saw him make gags about keeping him on script and roll out a quip about his new life with his family in California not being scrutinised.

Harry now officially considers the US his primary residence, as first revealed by the Mail earlier this month. 

The change was declared in a change of address filed with Companies House for his eco travel venture Travalyst.