What medals does Prince Harry have and how did he earn them?

James Hockaday
Updated ·2-min read
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attends Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in London, Britain May 6, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
Prince Harry smiled at the crowd as he walked down Westminster Abbey without Meghan Markle. (Reuters)

Prince Harry was shown entering Westminster Abbey with his military medals on show ahead of his father King Charles III's coronation.

Despite serving in the British Army for 10 years, the Duke of Sussex has been wearing civilian attire at most public events since stepping back as a senior royal in 2020 to start a new life with his wife Meghan Markle in the US.

It is thought Harry was not allowed to wear his military uniform due to royal protocol on non-working members of the family.

However Prince Andrew was allowed to wear ceremonial Knight of the Garter robes despite stepping down as a working royal over his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

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Harry smiled at members of the crowd as he walked alone down the aisle of Westminster Abbey – without Meghan – who is staying at home in California with their children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, one.

The duke wore a suit for all but one royal events when he returned to the UK following the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, but he was allowed to display his medals on every occasion.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. Gareth Cattermole/Pool via REUTERS
The Duke of Sussex has not worn military uniform for all but one royal events since stepping down as a working member of the family. (Reuters)

What medals does Prince Harry have?

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, wears his medals over his suit - the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Queen's Daimond Jubilee Medal and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Harry's medals (L-R) the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Queen's Daimond Jubilee Medal and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal. (Getty)

Harry served the British Army for 10 years and saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

In 2008 he received the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan in recognition of his service in Helmand Province.

He also has the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), which was given to him by the Queen in 2015 for 'services to the sovereign'.

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The duke also has the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, awarded in 2002 to all of those in active service who had been in the Armed Forces for five years.

In 2012 Harry was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, which was given to all of those in the emergency services, Armed Forces, prison service and the Royal Household.

Last year he received the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal – mostly reserved for serving armed forces or frontline service workers – despite the duke giving up his honorary military titles in 2020.

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