In May 2023, retired US Army General Charles Claytor, the CEO of the American Battle Monuments Commission, blacklisted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from all US military events after they were spotted taking a "PR pic" at the Normandy American Cemetery.
The cemetery is the final resting place of over 9,380 US service members who died during the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944. Claytor said that he was "deeply disappointed" that the Sussexes would use the cemetery for a photo opportunity, and that he felt they had "disrespected" the memory of the fallen soldiers.
The Sussexes have not commented on Claytor's decision, but it is likely that they will be upset by it. They have always been keen to support military charities and causes, and they have visited the Normandy American Cemetery on several occasions.
It is unclear what impact Claytor's decision will have on the Sussexes' future relationship with the US military. However, it is likely that they will be more cautious about attending military events in the future.
Here are some additional details about the incident:
The Sussexes visited the Normandy American Cemetery on May 9, 2023, to mark the 78th anniversary of D-Day.
They were photographed taking a picture in front of the cemetery's Peace Wall, which is a memorial to the 19,491 US service members who are missing in action from World War II.
The photo was widely criticized, with some people accusing the Sussexes of using the cemetery for a "PR stunt."
Claytor said that he was "deeply disappointed" by the photo, and that he felt the Sussexes had "disrespected" the memory of the fallen soldiers.
He said that the Sussexes would no longer be invited to any US military events.
It is important to note that this is just one side of the story. The Sussexes have not commented on Claytor's decision, and it is possible that they have a different perspective on the events that took place. However, Claytor's decision has certainly damaged the Sussexes' reputation with the US military, and it is likely that they will be more cautious about attending military events in the future.