Why did Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, then a British Army Captain in the Blues and Royals, a regiment of the Household Cavalry, salute the American Unknown Soldier interred in Arlington Cemetery?
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Though the monument has no officially designated name, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument dedicated to deceased US service members whose remains have not been identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
The Unknown Soldier received the Medal of Honor, the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded to recognize US military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is presented by the President in the name of the Congress.
During the First World War, the British and French armies, were allies during the war, jointly decided to bury soldiers themselves. In the UK, under the Imperial War Graves Commission, the Reverend David Railton had seen a grave marked by a rough cross while
serving in the British Army as a chaplain on the Western Front, which bore the pencil-written legend "An Unknown British Soldier.” He wrote to the Dean of Westminster in 1920 proposing an unidentified British soldier from the battlefields in France be buried with due
ceremony in Westminster Abbey "amongst the kings" to represent the many hundreds of thousands of Empire dead. Suitable remains were exhumed from various battlefields and brought to the chapel at Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise near Arras, France on the night of 7 November 1920.
The bodies were received by the Reverend George Kendall OBE. Brigadier L.J. Wyatt and Lieutenant Colonel E.A.S. Gell of the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries went into the chapel alone. The remains were then placed in four plain coffins each covered by Union Flags.
the two officers did not know from which battlefield any individual soldier had come. Brigadier Wyatt with closed eyes rested his hand on one of the coffins. The coffin was carried up the gangway of the destroyer, HMS Verdun (L93), and piped aboard with an Admiral's Call.
the two officers did not know from which battlefield any individual soldier had come. Brigadier Wyatt with closed eyes rested his hand on one of the coffins. The coffin was carried up the gangway of the destroyer, HMS Verdun (L93), and piped aboard with an Admiral's Call.
the two officers did not know from which battlefield any individual soldier had come. Brigadier Wyatt with closed eyes rested his hand on one of the coffins. The coffin was carried up the gangway of the destroyer, HMS Verdun (L93), and piped aboard with an Admiral's Call.
The Verdun slipped anchor just before noon and was joined by an escort of six battleships. As the flotilla carrying the coffin closed on Dover Castle, it received a 19-gun Field Marshal's Salute. It was landed at Dover Marine Railway Station at the Western Docks on 10 November.
On the morning of November 11, 1920, the coffin was placed onto a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery and drawn by six horses through immense silent crowds. The cortège was followed by King George V, to Westminster Abbey, where the casket was borne into the West Nave.
On the morning of November 11, 1920, the coffin was placed onto a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery and drawn by six horses through immense silent crowds. The cortège was followed by King George V, to Westminster Abbey, where the casket was borne into the West Nave.
On the morning of November 11, 1920, the coffin was placed onto a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery and drawn by six horses through immense silent crowds. The cortège was followed by King George V, to Westminster Abbey, where the casket was borne into the West Nave.
On the morning of November 11, 1920, the coffin was placed onto a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery and drawn by six horses through immense silent crowds. The cortège was followed by King George V, to Westminster Abbey, where the casket was borne into the West Nave.
The coffin was interred in the far western end of the Nave in soil brought from each of the main battlefields and covered with a silk pall. The grave was capped with a black Belgian marble stone (the only tombstone in the Abbey on which it is forbidden to walk) inscribed with:
The coffin was interred in the far western end of the Nave in soil brought from each of the main battlefields and covered with a silk pall. The grave was capped with a black Belgian marble stone (the only tombstone in the Abbey on which it is forbidden to walk) inscribed with:
The coffin was interred in the far western end of the Nave in soil brought from each of the main battlefields and covered with a silk pall. The grave was capped with a black Belgian marble stone (the only tombstone in the Abbey on which it is forbidden to walk) inscribed with:
On October 17, 1921, the Unknown Warrior received the United State’s highest decoration for valour, the Medal of Honor, from General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing GCB. The Medal of Honor hangs on a pillar close to the tomb.
On October 17, 1921, the Unknown Warrior received the United State’s highest decoration for valour, the Medal of Honor, from General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing GCB. The Medal of Honor hangs on a pillar close to the tomb.
On October 17, 1921, the Unknown Warrior received the United State’s highest decoration for valour, the Medal of Honor, from General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing GCB. The Medal of Honor hangs on a pillar close to the tomb.
On Memorial Day, 1921, four unknown servicemen were exhumed from four World War I American cemeteries in France, Aisne-Maine, Meuse-Argonne, Somme, and St. Mihiel. Army Sgt. Edward F. Younger, who was wounded in combat, and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross selected the
Unknown of World War I from four identical caskets at the city hall in Châlons-en-Champagne, France, on October 24, 1921. Younger selected the World War I Unknown by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets. He chose the third casket from the left.
Unknown of World War I from four identical caskets at the city hall in Châlons-en-Champagne, France, on October 24, 1921. Younger selected the World War I Unknown by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets. He chose the third casket from the left.
Unknown of World War I from four identical caskets at the city hall in Châlons-en-Champagne, France, on October 24, 1921. Younger selected the World War I Unknown by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets. He chose the third casket from the left.
The chosen Unknown was transported to the United States aboard USS Olympia (C-6). Those remaining were interred in the Meuse Argonne Cemetery, France. The World War I Unknown lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda upon his arrival in the United States until November 11, 1921.
The chosen Unknown was transported to the United States aboard USS Olympia (C-6). Those remaining were interred in the Meuse Argonne Cemetery, France. The World War I Unknown lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda upon his arrival in the United States until November 11, 1921.
The chosen Unknown was transported to the United States aboard USS Olympia (C-6). Those remaining were interred in the Meuse Argonne Cemetery, France. The World War I Unknown lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda upon his arrival in the United States until November 11, 1921.
On November 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding officiated at the interment ceremonies at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. During the ceremony, the World War I Unknown was awarded the Victoria Cross by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty, on behalf of
On November 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding officiated at the interment ceremonies at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. During the ceremony, the World War I Unknown was awarded the Victoria Cross by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty, on behalf of
On November 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding officiated at the interment ceremonies at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. During the ceremony, the World War I Unknown was awarded the Victoria Cross by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty, on behalf of
His Majesty, George V, King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, Emperor of India, etc. The Victoria Cross (VC) was placed with the Unknown Soldier. The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system.
The Victoria Cross is awarded for
"... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy...” to the British Armed Forces, such as Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes, VC, GCB.
The Victoria Cross is awarded for"... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy...” to the British Armed Forces, such as Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes, VC, GCB.
The Victoria Cross is awarded for"... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy...” to the British Armed Forces, such as Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes, VC, GCB.
Royal brides married at the Abbey lay their bouquets on the Tomb the day after the wedding, starting with Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on April 26, 1923 after marrying the future King George VI. She laid her bouquet in tribute to her brother Fergus who died at the Battle of Loos in 1915.
Officially, there is no regulation requiring service members to salute Medal of Honor recipients. The tradition of saluting Recipients arose from an Army tradition of having Recipients standing with an officer during the “pass in review,” and both returning salutes from troops.
Likewise, there is no official requirement in the official warrant of the VC, nor in the Queen's Regulations and Orders, but tradition warrants such senior officers will salute a private awarded a VC or George Cross, the second highest UK award.
Now you know why Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, saluted the American Unknown Soldier, a recipient of the Victoria Cross.

All US military personnel shall render the same honors, uniformed or not, to the British Unknown Warrior, a Medal of Honor Recipient, in Westminster Abby.
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