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duke of sussex has issued a heartfelt call to remember not only those who have Fallen in conflict but also surviving veteransWarning of how easily they can be forgotten “once the uniform comes off”.
In an emotional essay that continues Remembrance Day, prince harry Expressed deep pride in his military service and his deep attachment to “the things that make us British”.
The former soldier, who completed two frontline tours in Afghanistan, wrote the 647-word article titled “The bond, the banter, the bravery: What it means to be British – by Prince Harry”.
Despite currently living in the United States, the Duke affirmed that “Britain is and always will be the country I proudly served and fought for”.
He urged the public to connect with veterans, suggesting they “knock on veterans’ doors and join them for a cuppa…or a pint” to hear their stories and “remind them that their service still matters”.
Harry paid tribute to the “steadfast sense of self-deprecation and humor” recognized in “us Britons”, recalling how “the filth, the clubhouse, the pub, the banter of the stands” are the “things that make us British”, adding, “I love it.”
He drew parallels between this sentiment and the “resilience” and “fierce determination” he observed among Ukrainians during a visit to the war-torn nation in September.
For Duke, the remembrance is “not just a minute’s silence” but “a call to collective responsibility”.
He began his reflective essay by saying: “Every November, the world falls silent for a moment. We pause together to remember. Remembrance is never about glorifying war. It is about recognizing its cost: lives changed forever and lessons paid through unimaginable sacrifice. It is also about honoring those who chose to serve, knowing that price.”
Reflecting on his own service, Harry spoke of “the privilege of serving alongside men and women from all four corners of Britain; from Antrim to Anglesey, Lancashire to London, Wrexham to the East Riding, Belfast to Bedfordshire and beyond.”
He saw “courage and compassion in the toughest circumstances”, but also recognized “once the uniforms come off, how easy it can be for those who gave their all to feel forgotten.” He stressed that “our duty to them does not end with their service,” adding: “They protected our freedom. We must protect their future. That way we all benefit.”
The Duke also expressed concern that “peace, for those fortunate enough to know it, seems more fragile than ever on this Remembrance Sunday”.
He highlighted their annual commendation for the children of fallen military heroes, supported by the Norfolk-based Scotties Little Soldiers charity, and praised the courage and camaraderie evident in their Invictus Games competition.
He concluded his essay by saying: “Remembrance is not limited to a weekend in November. It is a lifelong commitment to empathy, gratitude, and action; to be kinder, more united, and braver in protecting the things that those before us fought to preserve. So, as we bow our heads this weekend, let us remember not only the fallen, but also the living – those who still carry the weight of war in body and mind are, and the families who hold its memory in their hearts.”
The release of the Duke’s message coincides with his two-day visit to Toronto, where he is meeting with Canadian veterans and military donors to mark the ‘Remembrancetide’ period.
This timing was reportedly chosen to avoid overshadowing her brother, the Prince of Wales, who was on a major tour of Brazil and hosting the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.
It is understood Harry’s words were issued to avoid focusing on Prince William’s key speech at the COP30 climate talks in the Amazon on Wednesday, as well as major commemoration events in the UK, including the Field of Remembrance, commemorations at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cenotaph.
Harry reportedly intended to speak directly to the servicemen and women from across the UK with whom he served. He is said to be of the firm belief that despite the conclusion of conflicts such as the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan and the subsequent reduction in operational tempo, he has not forgotten those who put on their uniforms, and neither should the wider British public.
In 2020, the year he stepped down as a senior working royal and relocated to the US with the Duchess of Sussex, Harry was reportedly saddened when his request to lay a poppy wreath at the Cenotaph on her behalf was rejected. Months later, his military patronage was removed by Queen Elizabeth II after his decision to pursue a life of personal and financial independence was made permanent.
He has consistently underlined the importance of his time in the armed forces, saying in 2020: “(My military) experience changed my life forever, and for the better. It changed the way I look at sacrifice and service. I was born into a life of duty, but during my decade in the military I committed to a life of service.”
He said it “made me who I am today.” Harry founded the Invictus Games competition for wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women a decade ago in 2014, with Birmingham recently winning the bid to host the Games in the UK in 2027.
This August, Harry paid a touching tribute to his grandfather, Prince Philip, by secretly leaving a personal letter and a wreath of red poppies at the Burma Star Memorial in Staffordshire on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.