Reason why Prince Harry won't attend Remembrance Sunday despite moving back to UK
With Prince Harry reportedly missing this year's Remembrance Sunday commemorations in London - despite returning to the UK - a royal expert has questioned whether his decision could signal a step towards reconciliation with the Royals.
The Duke of Sussex, who served in the British Army for 10 years and completed two tours of Afghanistan, is expected to mark the poignant occasion privately rather than join senior members of the monarchy at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday 8 November.
According to a report shared by Page Six, Harry is keen to avoid 'anything that would pull focus from the Royal Family or the national commemorations'.
The publication's royal source reportedly added that the father-of-two was more likely to mark the occasion privately, either at a church or at his local war memorial's annual service.
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However, the reported decision has raised questions about the Duke's relationship with his family, particularly given his military background and the significance of Remembrance Sunday.
Speaking exclusively to Tyla, royal etiquette expert Laura Windsor shared her thoughts on Harry's reported plans, suggesting that the decision could be viewed with some scepticism given his past behaviour.
"We can speculate as much as we like about why Prince Harry is choosing not to attend Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London," she told us. "According to sources close to him, he would prefer to mark the occasion privately. That sounds perfectly reasonable.
"However, given that it is Harry, the public might understandably be rather sceptical. It seems a rather 'out of character' move, considering his public conduct over recent years and inconsistencies between what he has said and what he has done."
Windsor added that the latest report on his decision has already left the public with questions.
"Will he make any attempt to apologise, acknowledge the hurt he has caused or take responsibility for his past actions? Is choosing not to attend Remembrance Sunday simply a decision that serves his own interests, or does he genuinely want the focus to remain on the occasion itself?
"And, lastly, is keeping a low profile the beginning of a reconciliation?"
While Harry's military service makes Remembrance Sunday a particularly significant occasion for the Duke, Windsor also pointed out that his position within the Royal Family has changed considerably since he stepped back from his official duties in 2020.
"We have to remember that Harry served ten years in the British Army, including two tours of Afghanistan," she noted. "Whether Remembrance Sunday remains deeply personal to him is, again, a matter of speculation.
"It may well be a part of who he is, but being a member of the Royal Family is also very much part of his identity, and he chose to resign from his royal duties and turn his back on that part of himself too."
In terms of Royal protocol, Windsor noted that, just because his father is the King, this doesn't mean Harry is automatically entitled to walk alongside Charles in the official royal procession, being that he's no longer a working royal or a representative of the monarchy.
"That would be up to the Palace," she went on. "There is, however, no general rule preventing him from attending as a private individual or, even taking part in the veterans’ procession."
Windsor also added that the veterans' parade has its own registration requirements, and the deadline for individual applications closed in September.
Remembrance Sunday is a national occasion dedicated to remembering members of the Armed Forces, their families and all those affected by conflict. The National Service of Remembrance takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, with the traditional two-minute silence beginning at 11am.
The parade sees around 10,000 veterans and eligible participants march past the Cenotaph following the National Act of Remembrance, led by the King.
Harry last attended the official Cenotaph service alongside the Royal Family in 2019, before he and wife Meghan Markle stepped back as working royals.
The couple subsequently relocated to the US, where they lived in Montecito, California, for six years.
They returned to the UK back in August, however, where their children - Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet - have since enrolled at English schools.
Despite the speculation surrounding his decision, Windsor stressed that it is ultimately Harry's actions, rather than reports attributed to people close to him, that will determine what happens next.
"We can debate Harry’s intentions as much as we like, but ultimately, it will be his future behaviour that speaks louder than any statement made by close friends or representatives," she explained.
"Will Harry’s absence be noticed? For sure. There will, no doubt, be just as much media coverage of his decision not to attend, as there would have been had he chosen to be there."
She continued: "All eyes will be on what Harry does next, and how both he and Meghan conduct themselves in the months ahead. Only then will we have a clearer picture of whether he genuinely wants to reconcile with the Royal Family.
"Only time will tell…"
Topics: Royal Family, Prince Harry, UK News, Meghan Markle, King Charles III
Rhianna Benson
