Loose Women viewers have shared their outrage following reports Prince Harry personally asked for a wreath to be laid at the Cenotaph on his behalf on Remembrance Sunday.
The Duke of Sussex, 36, who now lives in the US with his wife Meghan Markle, and their son Archie, one, after stepping back from royal duties in March, is thought to have been ‘deeply saddened’ after palace aides refused to grant his request.
Some viewers suggested Prince Harry ‘couldn’t have it both ways’ and didn’t deserve a wreath to be placed alongside those from the other royal family members since he no longer represented any of the British Armed Forces.
However, Loose Women panellists Brenda Edwards and Kelle Bryan, both said the palace should have allowed the prince’s request, especially because he spent 10 years serving the military.
The Queen was not thought to have been informed of the request or its refusal, the Times said, and Prince Harry instead placed his own wreath in Los Angeles, alongside the Duchess of Sussex.
Loose Women viewers have shared their outrage following reports Prince Harry personally asked for a wreath to be laid at the Cenotaph on his behalf on Remembrance Sunday. Pictured, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visit the Los Angeles National Cemetery in honour of Remembrance Sunday
The Duke of Sussex, 36, who now lives in the US with his wife Meghan Markle, and their son Archie, one, after stepping back from royal duties in March, is thought to have been ‘deeply saddened’ after palace aides refused to grant his request. Pictured: Prince William at the Remembrance Day service on Sunday
Some viewers (above) suggested Prince Harry ‘couldn’t have it both ways’ and didn’t deserve a wreath to be placed along with the other royal family members since he no longer represented any of the British Armed Forces
Some viewers suggested Prince Harry no longer had any right to place a wreath during Remembrance Sunday.
One person wrote: ‘Prince Harry can’t pick and choose, either he’s a royal in the limelight and carries out royal duties or he’s not!’
Another said: ‘He chose to leave the family and the country. You can’t leave but still want the bits you like to continue. No other “movie producers have wreaths at Cenotaph, what makes this movie maker any different now he’s chosen civvy life?’
A third added: ‘Lots of people served in the forces that couldn’t lay wreaths! What makes an ex royal special?’
However, a poll on Loose Women found nearly 51 per cent of viewers thought the palace was ‘petty’ to refuse the request.
Agreeing, one person wrote: ‘Prince Harry is the only royal, other than the Queen, who has the right to be at Cenotaph because he’s the only veteran who has sen frontline service.’
Loose Women panellist Kelle agreed, saying: ‘I think this is a real shame when it’s something so meaningful as Remembrance Day and we know what it actually stands for.
Reaction: Some viewers suggested Prince Harry no longer had any right to place a wreath during Remembrance Sunday
However, Loose Women panellists Brenda Edwards (pictured top right) and Kelle Bryan (pictured bottom left), both said the palace should have allowed the prince’s request, especially because he spent 10 years serving the military
‘He may not be a working royal but he actually served, and this is something that is obviously very important to him. I think he should have been allowed to do so,’ she added.
The presenter also commented on Prince William’s appearance at the Remembrance Day service on Sunday.
She added: ‘Watching Prince William by himself… he looked so lost and lonely without his little brother by his side, and I just felt for him in that moment.’
Brenda agreed that Prince Harry’s request should’ve been granted, saying: ‘He served for 10 years in the Armed Forces himself.
‘It’s supposed to be about remembrance but everybody seems to want to forget that he actually did that.’
A poll (pictured) on Loose Women found nearly 51 per cent of viewers thought the palace was ‘petty’ to refuse the request
Reaction: Some viewers suggested Prince Harry had every right to his request since he was a veteran, having been in the army for 10 years
‘What’s happened to his £1,000 that he’s spent? We’re talking about money that’s gone to waste somewhere. I just think it’s very petty. It’s sad, really sad.’
Prince Harry made the personal request to Buckingham Palace but it was reportedly refused.
It later emerged that the royal’s wreath was made at the Royal British Legion’s Kent HQ for £1,000, but lay there forgotten yesterday.
Instead, Prince Harry and Meghan ‘personally recognised’ Remembrance Day by visiting the Los Angeles National cemetery to pay their respects to fallen Commonwealth soldiers.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex laid flowers they had picked from their own garden at two graves, one for those who had served in the Royal Australian Air Force and one for soldiers from the Royal Canadian Artillery.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pictured during a private visit to the Los Angeles National Cemetery on Remembrance Sunday
Prince Harry signed a message with the wreath he left at the cemetery saying: ‘To all of those who have served, and are serving. Thank you’
They also placed a wreath at an obelisk in the cemetery that features a plaque that’s inscribed ‘In Memory of the Men Who Offered Their Lives in Deference of Their Country’
They also placed a wreath at an obelisk in the cemetery that features a plaque inscribed ‘In Memory of the Men Who Offered Their Lives In Defence Of Their Country’.
The couple laid flowers in memory of the Ronald William Scott, a Leading Aircraftman in the Royal Australian Air Force who died in the Second World War, aged just 22.
They also visited the grave of Captain William Quayle Setliffe Sr, who served in the First World War, before dying on Christmas Day in 1946 at the age of 61. He served with the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Harry was pictured wearing a navy suit with his service medals attached, while Meghan wore a long belted black coat. The pair wore masks on the way to the cemetery, though they were pictured without them when they reached the graves.
Prince William and Prince Charles attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London
Members of the public were told not to go to the memorial for the wreath laying because of strict lockdown restrictions
The flowers were picked by Meghan from the garden of their $14 million Santa Barbara mansion.
A spokesman for the couple said: ‘It was important to the duke and duchess to be able to personally recognise Remembrance in their own way, to pay tribute to those who have served and to those who gave their lives.
‘The couple laid flowers that the duchess picked from their garden at the gravesites of two commonwealth soldiers, one who had served in the Royal Australian Air Force and one from the Royal Canadian Artillery.’
The statement said they also placed a wreath at an obelisk in the cemetery.
‘The duke signed a message with the wreath saying: “To all of those who have served, and are serving. Thank you”.’