Prince Harry opts out of King Charles' coronation medal at event

The Duke of Sussex graced the Invictus Games anniversary service adorned with medals, noticeably omitting one from his father, King Charles III.

Prince Harry marked the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games—a sporting event for injured soldiers—at St. Paul's Cathedral, donning a distinguished black suit. The centerpiece of his attire was the Commander Knight of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) medal around his neck, supplemented by other honors pinned to his jacket. Notably absent, as pointed out by the British press, was the coronation medal presented to him last May in recognition of King Charles III's ascension to the throne.

Prince Harry's collection included a medal from the late Queen Elizabeth "for services to the monarchy", a service medal from his 2008 deployment to Helmand province in Afghanistan, and the Queen’s jubilee medals—gold, diamond, and platinum.

Royal commentators interpret the omission of the coronation medal as a subtle snub to King Charles III.

Richard Fitzwilliams expressed that Harry’s actions suggest a deliberate distancing from his former royal life, with a permanent shift to the United States.

"The Sussexes are intentional in their actions, aiming to highlight their detachment from the royal family, (...) They know well that their choices, attire, and words will be scrutinized. The problem is, choosing not to wear the coronation medal is likely to be seen as a sign of disrespect towards King Charles," stated "The Sun".

This isn't the first instance of Harry foregoing the coronation medal; he also left it behind during a recent award ceremony honoring a distinguished American soldier. Observers see this as Harry’s subtle reprisal for being denied the right to wear military uniforms at his father's coronation ceremony.

The coronation medal was awarded to 400,000 individuals in recognition of their active service at Westminster Abbey, including armed forces members, emergency services workers, public sector prison service personnel, and living recipients of the George Cross and the Victoria Cross.