Prince Harry has sent an emotional letter to bereaved military children ahead of Remembrance Sunday. The Duke of Sussex is the global ambassador of Scotty’s Little Soldiers and used his annual letter to remind the youngsters that they are not alone and that he was standing beside them.
Ahead of Remembrance weekend, the prince said, “As Remembrance approaches, I wanted to write and let you know how incredibly proud we all are of you. This time of year can bring a lot of emotions – pride, love, and sometimes sadness – as you remember your parent or loved one who served our country.
“Please know you’re not alone in that. You’ve got each other, and a whole community of friends and family who understand what this time means and who are standing right beside you, myself included.”
Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years, leaving in 2015. During that time, he completed two frontline tours of Afghanistan working as a forward air controller and an Apache helicopter pilot.
The Duke’s letter to the charity added: “I often think back to my own time in the military; the friendships, the laughs, and the sense that no matter what, someone’s got your back. That same spirit lives in all of you.”
The founder of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, Nikki Scott, said: “This weekend is always deeply emotional for our families, but it’s also a time for pride and connection. Knowing that Prince Harry – and the country – are standing alongside them means the world.”
Harry’s letter has been released ahead of 100 young representatives from the charity attending the Festival of Remembrance and the Cenotaph Parade in London this year.
It also comes one day after Harry released a 647-word article about what it means to be British. Titled The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What it means to be British – By Prince Harry, the Duke asks people to remember “not only the fallen, but the living” who live with the “weight of war” and pleads with people to approach veterans and “join them for a cuppa…or a pint” and listen to their stories to “remind them their service still matters”.
Harry, who left the UK behind in 2020 to move to Montecito, California, with his wife, Meghan Markle, says in the piece that he “currently” lives in the US, but “Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for”.
He goes on to describe how Remembrance is “not simply a minute’s silence,” rather “a call to collective responsibility”.
Harry is currently carrying out a visit to Canada, during which he has met with veterans, members of the armed forces community, and representatives of military charities.
