Queen’s Remembrance Day wreath rejection ‘wounded’ Prince Harry

When the Queen blocked Prince Harry’s Remembrance Day request to have a wreath laid on his behalf at the Cenotaph last year, it sparked a chain of events that would eventually culminate in the couple’s tell-all Oprah interview.

One source told The Mail on Sunday that Harry felt deeply wounded by the decision, finding it another glaring example of being pushed away by the Royal Family.

It has also been reported that Harry was said to be ‘deeply saddened’ that his ten years of service with the military were not taken into consideration.

‘His military work is one of the most important things to him,’ a friend said. 

The Prince of Wales laid a wreath and also one for the Queen, who watched from a balcony with the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge. 

The Princess Royal, Prince William and the Earl of Wessex also laid remembrance wreaths.

Instead, Prince Harry marked the occasion by appearing on the Declassified Podcast alongside other veterans and members of the military. 

He said the day was significant to him as ‘a moment for respect and for hope’.

Prince Charles laying a wreath during a National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Westminster, London, in November last year

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also arranged to be photographed laying a wreath at a cemetery in Los Angeles, saying they wanted to ‘personally recognise’ the day in their own way.

Ex-Household Cavalry Lance Corporal Martyn, a friend of Prince Harry who served with him in Afghanistan, said: ‘He was very passionate about what he’d done, he has obviously served his time.

‘To have that taken away will be a massive ordeal for him, it’s a big thing that he’s done, and personally I hope it’s worth it for him… he is obviously just looking out for his family.’