Prince Harry ‘deeply saddened after rejected request’ to have wreath laid at Cenotaph

Other members of royal family gathered today for Remembrance Day service

The Duke of Sussex was refused the opportunity to have a wreath laid on his behalf at the Cenotaph today, it has been reported.

According to The Sunday Times, Prince Harry is “deeply saddened” by the decision, which was allegedly taken on the grounds that he is no longer a working member of the royal family.

Prince Harry spent 10 years in the military but gave up his military posts, including his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, earlier this year when he relocated to California with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex.

The couple stepped down from their roles in the royal family in March.

The news comes as other members of the royal family gathered at a scaled-back event at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday.

The Prince of Wales laid his own wreath in addition to one on behalf of The Queen, who watched the event from a nearby balcony along with the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince William, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex also laid wreaths on the Cenotaph.

The only other member of the royal family not in attendance at the service was the Duke of York, who stepped down from official royal duties earlier this year following the Panorama interview about his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Harry marked Remembrance Day this year from afar by appearing on on the Declassified Podcast alongside other veterans and members of the military. 

In the episode, Prince Harry explained what Remembrance Day means to him, describing it as “a moment for respect and for hope”.

“The act of remembering, of remembrance, is a profound act of honour,” he continued.

“It's how we preserve the legacies of entire generations and show our gratitude for the sacrifices they made in order for us to be able to live the lives we live today.”

When approached by The Independent, Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the claims made in The Sunday Times.

The Independent has contacted a representative for Prince Harry for comment.