Meghan Markle’s choice to wear a red poppy pin on her clothing during the opening of a new Navy fitness centre in San Diego, alongside Prince Harry, has ignited criticism online.
On November 8th, the couple joined members of the Navy SEAL Foundation to inaugurate a state-of-the-art warrior fitness program facility in downtown San Diego.
Both dressed in black attire, Meghan added a touch of color to her tailored pantsuit with a vibrant red poppy pin and black banner, while Harry wore a poppy pin on his jacket lapel.
Poppies are traditionally worn in various countries around the world in November to commemorate Remembrance events and Armistice Day, which falls on November 11th.
They serve as a tribute to the brave men and women who lost their lives while serving their countries in times of war.
In Britain, poppies are worn by members of the Royal Family and many members of the public throughout November, leading up to Remembrance Sunday.
This day holds great significance in honoring fallen veterans, with a solemn service held at the Cenotaph War Memorial in London.
While some Americans also wear poppies in the lead-up to Veterans Day, they are more commonly associated with Memorial Day in May.
Meghan’s decision to wear the poppy in November instead of May has faced criticism from some individuals online.
One Twitter user expressed surprise, stating, “I didn’t think that poppies were worn on Veterans Day in the United States, but they’re worn on Memorial Day in May, am I wrong?”
Another user vented frustration, claiming that Meghan should not have taken the spotlight at an event unrelated to her, saying, “And instead of attending court, here’s that one, yet again, claiming front and center stage at an event that has absolutely nothing to do with her.”
Furthermore, some individuals on Twitter wrongly asserted that the poppy pin Meghan wore was exclusively associated with the Royal British Legion.
However, this does not appear to be the case, as Meghan’s pin does not match any currently sold by the organization.
“Meghan Markle looks like a moron wearing a Royal British Legion poppy,” wrote another disgruntled Twitter user.
They questioned her choice to wear a British poppy while celebrating American veterans, suggesting it was not a good look.
In contrast to the criticism directed at Meghan, Prince Harry has been named Global Ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a British charity that supports children whose parents have died while serving in the armed forces.
Despite this significant role, Harry was accused by his critics of pretending to be a working royal.
The statement released by the charity mentioned that, in honor of Remembrance Sunday, Harry shared a letter of support with Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
The statement further explained that Harry has been involved with the charity since 2017 and was recently appointed as its first-ever Global Ambassador.
In this role, he aims to amplify the voices of bereaved military children, expand support to more families in need, and explore potential collaborations and growth opportunities within military and veteran communities worldwide.
The Archibald Foundation’s website also published a copy of Harry’s full letter.