Meghanโค Markle’s Remembrance Day poppy Absence Sparks Debate After Harry‘s Public Appearances
TORONTO – A resurfaced claim by Meghan Markle that โpoppies were “not widely available”โฃ hasโฃ drawn renewed attentionโ following Remembrance weekend, as images โemerged of โPrince โHarry โคvisibly wearing the symbol of remembrance during a recent visit to Canada. The Duke of โSussex publicly expressed concerns about the fragility of peaceโ while engaging with members of the Canadian military, prompting scrutiny of his wife’s past explanation for not wearing a poppy.
Markle โfirst made the statement in a 2021โค interview,โฃ explaining her decision not toโ wear a โpoppy for Remembrance โฃDay commemorations. While โthe exact context of the โoriginalโฃ claimโ remains debated, โit contrasted sharply with โฃthe โreadily available poppiesโ worn โby veterans andโ members of the public across the โUK and commonwealth countries. โขThis year, Princeโค Harry spent time with members of Canada’s Reserve forces, โฃincluding โขthe Queen’s Own Riflesโข of Canada โand the Royal Regimentโค of Canada,โ and was photographed wearing a poppy.
Harry, in โa โstatement released this Remembrance Sunday, expressed concern that “peace for those lucky enough to know it, feels more โfragile than ever.” He highlighted the strength โof children supported by Scotty’s Little Soldiers and praised โขthe camaraderie seen at theโ Invictus Games.
“Remembrance isn’t confinedโข to one weekend in November,” Harryโข stated. โ”It’s a lifelong commitment to empathy, gratitude, and action; toโฃ be kinder, more united, and braver in โขprotecting โคwhat those before us fought to preserve.” He urged โthe โขpublic to acknowledge those still affected by war, stating, “So, โคas weโค bow our heads this weekend, let us remember not only the โฃfallen, but the living -โ those who still carry the weight of war inโข body and mind, andโ the families who bear โits memoryโข in their hearts. If you live near them, knock on theirโค door. If you see themโ around, shake theirโข hand.”
Theโค Royal British Legion, the organization behind the annual Poppy Appeal, ensures โmillions of poppies are distributed each year, making them widely accessible to the โpublic. The poppy serves as aโ symbol of remembrance for those who have died in war,โค and proceeds from its sale support veterans and their families.