On Wednesday, Prince Harry, who is based in California, called on people not to forget military veterans. He also expressed his enduring pride at being British.
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AFP reports: He made these comments ahead of Britain’s annual commemoration of its war dead on Sunday.
The prince, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, said that although he now lives abroad, "Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for."
He listed some of the things he loves about his country.
"The banter in the mess, the clubhouse, the pub, and the sports stadium stands—ridiculous as it sounds, these are the things that make us British," he said.
"I make no apology for it. I love it,” he added.
Harry, the 41-year-old younger son of King Charles III, is largely estranged from his family after quitting royal duties with his wife, Meghan, five years ago.
In a personal statement released by his office in the United States, the prince said he had witnessed "courage and compassion in the harshest conditions imaginable" during his time in the armed forces.
"But I also saw how easy it can be, once the uniform comes off, for those who gave everything to feel forgotten," he said.
He urged people to knock on veterans’ doors and “join them for a cuppa (cup of tea) or a pint” to hear their stories and “remind them their service still matters.”
Harry strained his family relations when he stepped away from royal duties in 2020 and later published his memoir, Spare.
The blockbuster book, released in January 2023, upset Buckingham Palace with its criticism of family members, including his brother William’s wife, Catherine, and his stepmother, Queen Camilla.
He has since voiced hopes for reconciliation and, in September, met with his father in London.
Charles, 76, is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer, announced in early 2024.
On Sunday, the nation will honor its war dead at a remembrance service at the Cenotaph memorial in central London.
After leaving the army, Harry founded the high-profile Invictus Games, a sporting event for wounded soldiers and veterans.
He said the annual event is not about "glorifying war."
"It's about recognizing its cost: the lives changed forever and the lessons learned through unimaginable sacrifice," he added.
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