{"id":92993,"date":"2024-04-26T12:18:58","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T12:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/26\/prince-harry-wears-army-medals-at-service-members-of-the-year-awards\/"},"modified":"2024-04-26T12:18:58","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T12:18:58","slug":"prince-harry-wears-army-medals-at-service-members-of-the-year-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/26\/prince-harry-wears-army-medals-at-service-members-of-the-year-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince Harry Wears Army Medals at Service Members of the Year Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Prince Harry<\/span> Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prince Harry<\/strong><\/a> made a surprise appearance at the Service Members of the Year Awards, wearing a subtle reminder of his own military service.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood evening, everyone. Especially those who are serving, have served and continue to serve,\u201d Harry, 39, said in a video message played during the Thursday, April 25, awards ceremony<\/a>. \u201cTonight I have the distinct honor of presenting this year\u2019s Soldier of the Year Award. I first met Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks at the Invictus Games in Orlando 2016, where I presented her with not one but four gold medals that she won in swimming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harry seemingly filmed his recorded message outside his Montecito, California, mansion, where he was dressed in a black suit and a burgundy tie. The Duke of Sussex also wore a collection of four military medals<\/a> on his lapel, denoting his decade of service in the British Army.<\/p>\n

Harry did not explain his medals in the speech, remaining focused on honoring Marks\u2019 achievements.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Prince Harry\u2019s Military Career: From Enlistment to Invictus Games<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tReady to serve. Prince Harry has remained dedicated to the military following his retirement from the British Royal Army in 2015. The Duke of Sussex is one of many members of the British royal family to serve their country throughout history. Harry was part of the armed forces for 10 years, while his older brother, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cTo me, she epitomizes the courage, resilience and determination represented across our service community, and this is not just because of her swimming abilities,\u201d Harry said. \u201cEllie has courageously overcome every obstacle that\u2019s crossed her path. She has turned her pain into purpose and led through compassion and willpower, showing others the impossible is indeed possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cDespite the injuries she endured during her deployment as a medical assistant in Iraq along with numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many, she has preserved tirelessly, becoming the first woman in the army\u2019s world-class athlete program as well as the first swimmer the program has ever seen. She\u2019s also taken her recovery a step further, using her experiences and achievements to inspire and assist others in their mental and physical journeys in the sport, ensuring those who can\u2019t see a way out or through are introduced to the medicine of sport that saved her too.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Prince Harry<\/span> Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Harry wearing his military medals on Thursday is particularly significant. He lost his honorary titles in 2020 when he and wife Meghan Markle<\/strong> stepped down from their duties as senior working royals. As a result, Harry has been unable to wear his ceremonial uniform at official royal events, including grandmother Queen Elizabeth II<\/strong>\u2019s state funeral and father King Charles III<\/strong>\u2019s coronation. Charles, 75, did allow his youngest son to wear the official garb for a special vigil at the queen\u2019s casket<\/a> in September 2022.<\/p>\n

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