A new controversy involves Prince Henry, son of King Charles III. The Duke of Sussex recently reappeared at his Montecito mansion to give an award to a soldier, however, he became news after doing so with military medals. The gesture has sparked a lot of comments, since he was stripped of his military titles.
Meghan Markle's husband presented Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks with a Soldier of the Year gong at her California home. In a video recorded from the back door of his house, Enrique greeted the American combat medic as a "friend" and a "beacon of inspiration." Marks, 33, suffered bilateral hip injuries during her time in Iraq. Subsequently, she won five Paralympic medals and four gold medals at Harry's Invictus Games.
"To me, she embodies the courage, resilience and determination represented throughout our service community," he said during his speech about the athlete. "And this is not just because of her swimming skills. Ellie has bravely overcome every obstacle that has come her way. She has turned her pain into purpose and guided through compassion and willpower, showing others that the impossible is really possible," he continued. "She endured injuries as a medical assistant in Iraq, along with numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many," she said.
The duke recorded the tribute video for an awards ceremony organized by the Military Times, which Marks attended in person. In the images, Prince William's brother was wearing a suit, red tie and four British Army medals. One of these medals was the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, which he earned as a helicopter pilot in Helmand in 2008. Harry also displayed his Golden Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee and Platinum Jubilee medals.
This reappearance has generated a lot of reactions, since Enrique was stripped of his military titles, including that of Captain General of the Royal Marines, after deciding to leave behind his commitments as a member of the British royal family in 2020. Al prince was also banned from wearing his ceremonial military uniform, since he is no longer a working royal. Some instructions that he seems unwilling to follow.
It was on January 8, 2020 when Harry and Meghan announced a change in the way they work with the Royal House, a completely unilateral announcement that the crown had no idea about. The dukes announced that they would assume their own commitments, those related to the causes that interested them, and would stop working with the 'Royal Rota', the system by which the palace rotates photographers to cover their official appearances. Later, they would go to live in California.
One of the most negative consequences for the prince was that he would have to renounce his military titles, something that, emotionally, was a great setback for the youngest son of Charles III and Lady Di. They were also not allowed to assume commitments that depended on the Crown, among many other measures. Now, Enrique has made the news again after wearing his medals.
