Prince Harry delighted a group of children and youngsters after he appeared at a charity’s virtual Christmas party for 30 minutes “of fun and connection”.
The Duke of Sussex, who is Scotty’s Little Soldiers’s Global Ambassador, made an appearance at the charity’s virtual Christmas party on Tuesday, December 10, where he joined over 280 bereaved military children and young people for a session filled with laughter and joy.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
The youngsters enjoyed a series of interactive games, including building towers with cushions and making snowmen out of toilet rolls during the party, which was hosted by party planners Sharky and George.
During the event, Harry shared his own Christmas memories with the children and opened up about celebrating Christmas.
He told them: “It’s okay to feel however you feel at Christmas.
“Some people will be celebrating and happy, other people feel reflective, some people will be sad, and maybe you’ll experience every single one of these emotions and that’s absolutely fine.
“Remember you’ve got each other, you’ve got Scotty’s and you’ve got the people that love you.”
The duke also took part in a Q&A session from members of the charity, who quizzed him on a wide range of fun and random topics, about his time with the Armed Forces, while one question touched upon what it’s like to be bereaved
Six members of the charity joined Harry in answering a selection of the questions, sharing their own experiences.
Bethan, 23, who participated in the Q&A alongside Prince Harry, said: “I felt a real connection with Prince Harry. The party was upbeat and in no way sombre, but Prince Harry reminded us that he understands what we have all been through and that it’s okay to feel a mixture of emotions. He also made it clear to us that he is part of the Scotty’s community and proud to support us, which means a lot.”
Nikki Scott, who founded Scotty’s in 2010, following the death of her husband Cpl Lee Scott in Afghanistan, said: “Christmas can be a difficult time for bereaved children and young people, but this event reminded our members that they are part of a community that cares and understands.
“Prince Harry has been a massive supporter of Scotty’s for a number of years and having him at our virtual Christmas party made it really special and memorable for our members.”
So far this year, the charity has supported over 730 bereaved military children and young people.
Scotty’s estimates that each year, 2,100 children are newly bereaved of parents who served in the British Armed Forces.
The charity wants to support these children and has a long-term goal of supporting over 1,000 young people annually by 2030. For more information please visit www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk.
