Harry Pulls Out His Old Service Medals for Day 2 of 'Faux' Royal Tour — and Fans Have a Lot to Say
A war veteran, Prince Harry wore his service medals during a wreath laying ceremony, a choice that has sparked debate about his role.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began their Australia tour on April 14 with a visit to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, staying focused on their business and philanthropic outreach. On April 15, the Duke of Sussex marked day two by flying solo to Canberra, where he laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial and attended an Indigenous smoking ceremony. A war veteran, he wore his service medals during the event, a detail that instantly caught the attention of royal watchers and sparked debate about his role.
As reported by the Australian newspaper, The Canberra Times, Harry mingled with several Indigenous veterans and paused for a somber moment. Around 100 people greeted him and watched him pay his respects in front of the For Our Country sculpture on the western lawns. He also walked through an art installation featuring a long passage lined with a reflective surface covered in small circular mirrors, before being guided into the main memorial area. His decision to wear his military medals ruffled some feathers, given that he stepped back from royal duties six years ago and is no longer entitled to wear military honors in an official capacity.
Shortly after Harry's visit went public, in a Facebook post, royal fans had a lot to say about his decision to sport the service medals. A netizen scoffed, "He wants his old life in the limelight plus all the benefits, which I call privilege." In a similar vein, another sneered, "He'll do anything to get him noticed." Many defended the Duke of Sussex's decision, with a person stating, "Don't forget he served in the army himself." Another chimed in, "Is there anything wrong with honoring our veterans, particularly as he is a veteran of the UK forces. Just what have you done?"
And this isn't the first time Harry has sported his military medals in an unofficial capacity. In 2022, during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, he donned a morning suit rather than a military uniform. Although he respected the decision not to wear his official military uniform, he still chose to wear the medals, which is also not permitted. He earned the Afghanistan Service Medal for his two tours in Afghanistan, where he served as an Apache helicopter pilot. His Jubilee medals, a significant milestone, recognized his contributions to the military as a working royal during the Queen's reign.
As for his second day in Australia, just hours before the wreath-laying ceremony, Harry visited the Melbourne football club and opened up about his struggles with fatherhood. While visiting the Western Bulldogs training ground, he candidly admitted he did not feel fully connected to it at first and later turned to therapy to work through lingering issues from his past. During his speech, he said, "Certainly, I felt a disconnection because my wife was the one creating life, and I was there to witness it."
