Harry turned up wearing his royal medals and regalia despite King Charles recently issuing a stark reminder that his son and wife Meghan are private citizens and should be treated as such
Prince Harry has been accused of “cosplaying” a Royal in his first UK public outing since his return from the US. He appeared to mingle with members of the Irish Guard and even took a salute, despite the fact that his sister -in-law, Princess Kate Middleton, holds the regiment’s prestigious role as Colonel.
Harry arrived at the event in full uniform in what was a private dinner and gala for his Invictus Games. He arrived in a blacked out SUV wearing his royal medals and regalia despite King Charles recently issuing a stark reminder that his son and wife Meghan are private citizens and should be treated as such.
The duke wore his Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order neck order, bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 as well as his 2008 Afghan Operational Service Medal and participation medals from the late Queen’s Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees in what was Harry’s first formal appearance in the UK since his return from California.
And fans were quick to spot the get up, taking to social media to slate him as a “try hard”.
One wrote: “This is cosplaying at its best. It seems Harry does not want to listen to what his dad has said,” while another added: “This is the biggest f*** you to his dad ever.”
Harry further infuriated royal fans by posing alongside members of the Irish Guards. The Princess of Wales inherited the prestigious role of Colonel of the Irish Guards from her husband, Prince William, in December 2022.
The royal military reshuffle came after William, 44, was bumped up to Colonel of the Welsh Guards, fitting his new status as Prince of Wales following his father’s accession to the throne three months earlier.
The prince was destroyed on X for this too.
One wrote: “Harry can cosplay his former life, sporting his three jubilee medals (which celebrate his granny) all he wants, but nobody sees private citizen Harry as royal,” while another added: “It’s so disrespectful to Catherine and since when do the Irish Guards attend the event of a private citizen hiding behind veterans, exploiting them while padding his pockets?”
“Why was he saluted? He is not the Colonel-in-Chief. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is,” a fourth person fumed.
Another added in a message to the Royals: “@RoyalFamily – you need to put a stop to this. Your quaint letter wasn’t enough; strip the titles. He doesn’t think of himself as a private citizen and clearly isn’t being treated as such.”