Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, received a rock star reception at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The six-day event took place without a glitch with the army veterans making their families, their countries, and the world proud. Markle opted for a subdued style so as not to distract.
However, during the closing ceremony, Prince Harry decided to address the elephant in the room — the Royal Family.
There were two thorny issues that Prince Harry decided to get off his chest — the fact that no members of the Royal Family wished him a happy birthday, and King Charles III‘s ban on him wearing his military uniform without authorization.
Prince Harry apparently mentioned that he was somewhat sad that there were no messages for his 39th birthday.
He used the emotional speech he delivered for the closing ceremony to speak about the fact that after serving 10 years in the military and two years in Afghanistan, he cannot wear his military fatigues during important events.
He said that the uniform does not make the soldier and added: “A week ago, I stood here and told you about the significance of being able to wear your nation’s flag again. And so many of you have told me that it hit you right here. For many of you, the uniform that you’ve been wearing this past week will give you a new story to tell. And for others, it may give your old uniform new meaning.”
He continued: “But I’m here to remind you that after all of this, you don’t need to rely on a uniform, nor should you ever feel lost without one. Why? Because everything you need is already within you.”
Royal expert and author Neil Sean weighed in on Prince Harry’s remark to say that Meghan Markle was hoping to see Prince Harry in his uniform because he earned it and is dashing in it.
However, Prince Harry refuses to anger King Charles and would not wear his uniform without his permission. The veteran royal commentator said on his show: “There’s one thing the Duke of Sussex would simply not do to alienate his father. it’s simply this as we saw recently with the closing of the Invictus games Prince Harry gave many people a rather emotional and tearful speech you know it was fascinating. But here’s a story that really I found particularly fascinating because, in that very final speech, the former Royal known as Prince Harry basically said that you don’t need a uniform to define who you are. There are many people surprised as you know sort of a dig at the former royal family and his family about stripping him of his titles. And of course, the inability for him to wear his uniform at such events you see is clawed into.”
He went on to reveal that Prince Harry refused to bend the rules to make Markle happy. Prince Harry wearing his uniform sans King Charles’s permission it would imply him breaking the law and causing outrage.
The expert stated: “That very close source, Meghan Markle, believes he should just Wear it anyway. She said he looks handsome in it, and he’s earned the right to continue to wear it as and when he wants. But you see, even right now, at the ripe old age of 39, Prince Harry seemingly does not want to offend or indeed upset the king anymore.”
He concluded by: “And while some people might say well of the correlation that the former well-known Duke of York, Prince Andrew, was allowed to wear his ceremonial robes, why wasn’t, of course, Prince Harry? You could push it. Perhaps Harry could wear his uniform literally on stage at Invictus, but without the permission of his majesty the King, he truly is breaking protocol, and this particular instruction did not come from his majesty the King but our monarch of 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II. And she was very adamant to Prince Harry that the titles and the one of uniform in public and public events would not be happening, so as much as Meghan Markle wants to push it by telling him that her husband looks absolutely fine and dandy in said uniform, he wouldn’t dare cross his matches to the king.”
The Duke of Sussex is very attached to his years of service and often talks about them.
