Prince Harry has been criticized for his “embarrassing” decision to wear British “participation” medals while presenting an award to a top-performing American soldier.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, wore an assortment of medals on his jacket as he named Combat Medic Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Military Times Soldier of the Year, including three marking the various jubilees of his grand- mother this century.
Royal watchers were quick to point out that the coronation medal presented to him and others involved in King Charles’ official ascension to the throne last May was missing from the prince’s buttons .
Experts believe the absence of this honor could be a snub to his father. The medals also match the ones Harry chose to wear when he attended the coronation.
However, critics on social media have now criticized Harry’s decision to wear the medals, calling them “participation medals” and asking: “Out of all the people in the world, they chose Harry?! »
Prince Harry wore a series of medals to present a US combat medic with the Soldier of the Year award via video message.
Another person complained, “We didn’t have an American veteran who could do that?
But some were quick to point out that the honoree, Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, competed in the Invictus Games in 2016. It is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and ill military personnel, founded by Prince Harry.
One social media user said: “I remember her from the Invictus Games in 2016! It’s very special that he gave him this award after all these years.
Despite this, Prince Harry has been criticized for his decision to wear British Army medals.
One person said the decision was “embarrassing”, saying the medals looked “ridiculous”.
Another said: “Participation medals are a sad cry for ‘look at meeeeeee’.”
Others defended the Duke of Sussex, pointing out that one of the medals was given to him for his service in Afghanistan. The others marked the jubilees of the late Queen.
Harry’s medals (left to right) included his Afghanistan service medal as well as the Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The medals appear to be the same ones he wore at the coronation of his father, King Charles III, in May last year.
The absence of the coronation medal on Harry’s chest, reported by Newsweek and The Sun, suggested to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams that he was deliberately seeking to distance himself from his former life as he made States United his permanent residence.
Harry was not allowed to attend last May’s festivities in military attire after stepping back from royal duties; this privilege is reserved for active members of the family.
Commentator Mr Fitzwilliams told Newsweek: “Eligible people who took part in the coronation received a medal.
“The Sussexes don’t do anything by chance and this clearly underlines or is intended to underline their distance from the royal family.”
And he added to The Sun: “The Sussexes are well aware that everything they do, everything they wear, everything they say, everything will be scrutinized.
Four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, 33, (pictured) suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed to Iraq in 2010, after be enlisted at the age of only 17.
The coronation medal features an effigy of King Charles and Queen Camilla on the front (left) and the royal cypher, CIIIR (Charles III Rex), on the reverse.
“The problem is that if he chooses not to wear the coronation medal, it will certainly be seen as a snub to King Charles.”
Representatives for the Duke of Sussex declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
The coronation medal bears an effigy of King Charles and Queen Camilla looking sideways on the front, and the king’s cipher, CIIIR (Charles III Rex), on the back.
In the video, Harry wore the Operational Service Medal awarded to him for his time in the Helmand Provincial Armed Forces.
He also wore the three Jubilee Medals cast to celebrate the Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
It is believed he wore these medals to show his affinity with the military, which played a key role in his early days as a member of the royal family, when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 and again in 2012.
Harry also opted not to wear his coronation medal as he gave a gag-filled monologue at the Stand Up for Heroes event for US veterans last November.
Like other recent appearances by the Duke, his Soldier of the Year award presentation appeared to be heavily staged – with Harry delivering a pre-recorded message from the back door of his Montecito mansion.
He paid tribute to Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks – who he described as a “friend” and a “beacon of inspiration” – by congratulating her on the award.
SFC Marks, 33, a four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist, suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed to Iraq in 2010, having enlisted at just 17 years old.
Harry said at the ceremony: “I first met Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks at the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, where I presented her with not one, but four gold medals that she had won in swimming.
“To me, she embodies the courage, resilience and determination represented within our service community. And it’s not just because of his swimming abilities.
“Ellie courageously overcame every obstacle to cross her path. She turned her pain into purpose and led with compassion and will, showing others that the impossible is indeed possible.
“Despite the injuries she suffered while deployed as a medical assistant in Iraq – as well as numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many – she persevered tirelessly, becoming the first woman in the program. Army’s world-class athletes as well as the first swimmer the program has ever seen.
“She has also taken her recovery a step further, using her experiences and achievements to inspire and help others on their mental and physical journey into sport, ensuring that those who don’t see a way out or exit are introduced to sports medicine which also saved.’
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