Meghan Markle’s choice of poppy, and when she chose to wear them, sparked fury in the past among members of the public. Last November, the Duchess of Sussex appeared in a video alongside her husband in which they discussed children’s safety in the digital world. While they both donned poppies, Meghan’s didn’t appear to have leaves on the stalk, resembling more a Scottish or Canadian design.
Following the emergence of the clip, commentator Lee Cohen hit out at the Duchess on GB News, saying: “When I saw that, I immediately made a post on Twitter that actually went viral, expressing that it makes one nauseous to see Meghan Markle wearing the poppy commemorating the noble dead of the nation. She is so disrespectful, so disrespected, and apparently a lot of people agree.” Controversy over Meghan wearing a poppy had emerged in 2023, when she and Prince Harry stepped out together to attend the opening of a new Navy fitness centre in San Diego, CA.
While November 11 marks Armistice Day in the UK and other countries of the world, with thousands wearing poppies to commemorate this on the day and in the run up to it, this is not the case in America. Instead, November 11 in the US is celebrated as Veterans’ Day in honour of the Armed Forces. This means that wearing a poppy isn’t required, and instead poppies in the US tend to be worn for Memorial Day in May.
This is why when Meghan wore a poppy on November 8, 2023, for this visit, she sparked some fury among American veterans as this is a nod to British custom rather than an American one.
One angered person at the time wrote on social media: “Who told her wearing a British poppy while ‘celebrating American veterans’ would be a good look.”
The poppy donned by Meghan on that occasion didn’t match any of those being sold at the time by the Royal British Legion.
Another said: “I didn’t think poppies are worn on Veterans Day in the US, but are worn on Memorial Day in May? Am I wrong?” They went on to claim Meghan was “claiming front & centre stage” at the event.
After leaving senior royal life and the UK in 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have still tried to mark Remembrance Day from across the pond.
Prince Harry has always been keen on marking the day, having served in the Army himself, including two tours in Afghanistan.
The prince, who no longer attends services to mark Remembrance Day with the Royal Family in the UK, has spoken many times about how important it was for him to serve in the armed forces.
He has also dedicated plenty of time to helping wounded ex veterans through his Invictus Games Foundation, which he set up in 2014.
