S Poddar
Prince Harry, sitting from his Montecito home, would have probably felt a nostalgic tear drop down his cheek while seeing his family reunite in an image of unity to pay respect and duty on Armistice Day, in the memory of all those soldiers that lost their lives. His absence was deeply missed there, but the royal family did a tremendous job marking this somber occasion in the UK.
Senior royals that attended the memorial were princess Anne, Prince William, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Kent and Sir Timothy Laurence led by King Charles. Kate Middleton and Duchess Sophie watched from the balcony with poise and graciousness, brining out family unity from that point of perspective. Harry would have been regretful from afar in California about missing an event that has personal importance for him, according to royal biographer Hugo Vickers.
“There was a tremendously united family,” Vickers said to The Sun. “They take pride in showing their unity while carrying out their duties and honoring the fallen.” Vickers further emphasized that gestures among family members communicated a powerful sense of togetherness. “One or two rather touching gestures, like Sophie putting her arm on Catherine’s back as they left, showed reassurance and support,” he explained. “I think it’s what really reminded me that this is, at its core, a family that sticks together.”
In Harry’s case, the British Army would continue to be part of his very fabric. Having served in the military for ten years, toured Afghanistan twice, and achieved the rank of captain, Harry has, at various points, spoken about how proud he felt while undertaking his military role. The ceremony may bring him face to face with what he has sacrificed since stepping away from public service.
Vickers went on, “It would be surprising if he watched it all without feeling a pang of regret, thinking, ‘This is what I’ve left behind; this is what I’ve said goodbye to as I sit here in Montecito in the sun.'”
Separated by distance, Harry made time to pay respects in his personal gesture, declaring his “lifelong admiration and appreciation for the service and sacrifice” of those in the military at times of “conflict and peace.” His words were a testimonial of his continued connection to those who serve, even as he carves his own destiny outside of what he was born into.
