Prince Harry to Skip UK Remembrance Day Events to Avoid 'Drama'
The Duke of Sussex, a veteran, will reportedly observe the day privately to ensure the focus remains on national commemorations.
Prince Harry will not participate in the upcoming Remembrance Day events in the United Kingdom, opting instead to observe the day privately. A source close to the situation stated that Harry "has no desire to create drama" or detract from the solemnity of the national commemorations.
The Duke of Sussex, who served 10 years in the British military from 2005 to 2015, is said to prefer marking Remembrance Sunday in a similar fashion to many other veterans: "privately, either at church or at their local war memorial’s annual service."
The insider emphasized that for Harry, Remembrance Sunday is a "deeply personal and important occasion, a time to honour those who have served, remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and stand alongside veterans." The source added that the Duke "has no desire to create drama or do anything that could distract from his family’s role in the national commemorations."
Remembrance Day, observed on November 11th, and Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November, are occasions where the royal family typically leads national ceremonies honoring service members who died in war. These events often involve laying poppy wreaths and observing a two-minute silence alongside the public, veterans, and political leaders.
Prince Harry last attended the official national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with the royal family in November 2019. This was before he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from their royal duties. King Charles and Prince William are expected to attend the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London this year.
Reports indicate that King Charles and Prince William are in agreement that Harry and Meghan should not represent the royal family. The Duke of Sussex recently relocated to the UK with his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reportedly to be closer to his father, King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment. However, Prince William is said to maintain a distant relationship with his brother and sister-in-law, reportedly having "no relationship with them, in a working or private capacity whatsoever."