Harry calls for veterans not to be forgotten and expresses his pride of being British ahead of Remembrance Day
The Duke of Sussex has issued a heartfelt appeal to remember not only those killed in conflict but also living veterans, warning how easily they can be forgotten “when the uniforms come off”.
In a passionate essay published ahead of Remembrance Day, Prince Harry expressed his deep pride in his military service and his deep love for “the things that make us British”.
The former soldier, who completed two front tours in Afghanistan, wrote the 647-word article titled “Bond, Joke, Courage: What It Means to Be British – From Prince Harry”.
Although he now resides in the United States, the Duke said, “Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for.”
Urging the public to engage with veterans, he suggested they “knock on veterans’ doors and join them for a cup of coffee or a beer,” hear their stories and “remind them that their service still matters.”
Harry paid tribute to the “patient spirit” and humor he identified in “we Brits”, fondly recalling that “the jokes of the mess, the clubhouse, the bar, the stands” were “all the things” that made us British, adding: “I love it.”
He drew parallels between this spirit and the “resilience” and “fierce determination” he observed in Ukrainians during his visit to the war-torn country in September.
For the duke, the Memorial service is “not just a moment of silence” but rather “a call to collective responsibility”.
He opened his thoughtful essay with these words: “Every November, the world becomes quieter for a moment. Together we pause to remember. Commemoration is never about glorifying war. It is about recognizing the cost: lives changed forever, and lessons paid for through unimaginable sacrifice. It is also about honoring those who, knowing that price, still choose to serve.”
Reflecting on his own service, Harry spoke of his “privilege to serve alongside men and women from across the United Kingdom; from Antrim to Anglesey, Lancashire to London, Wrexham to the East Riding, Belfast to Bedfordshire and beyond”.
He witnessed “courage and compassion in the most trying circumstances imaginable” but also realized “when the uniform comes off, how easy it can be for those who have given their all to feel forgotten.” He stressed that “our duty to them does not end when their service does,” adding: “They safeguarded our freedom. We must safeguard their future. That way we all benefit.”
The duke also expressed concern at the Remembrance ceremony on Sunday that “for those lucky enough to know peace, peace feels more fragile than ever”.
He emphasized his annual admiration for the children of fallen military heroes, supported by the Norfolk-based charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers, and praised the courage and camaraderie evident in the Invictus Games competition.
He concluded: “Remembrance is not limited to one weekend in November. It is a lifelong commitment to empathy, gratitude, and action; to be kinder, more united, and more courageous in protecting what those before us fought to protect. So, as we bow our heads this weekend, let us remember not just those who died, but those who lived—those who still carry the weight of war in their bodies and minds, and the families who carry its memory in their hearts.”
The publication of the Duke’s message coincided with his two-day visit to Toronto, where he met with Canadian veterans and military charities to mark the ‘Remembrance Day’ period.
The timing was reportedly chosen to avoid overshadowing his brother, the Prince of Wales, who is on a major tour to Brazil and hosting the Earthshot Award awards ceremony.
Harry’s remarks are understood to have been published on Wednesday to avoid focusing on key Remembrance events in the UK, including Prince William’s key speech at the COP30 climate talks in the Amazon, as well as memorial services at the Field of Remembrance, the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cenotaph.
Harry’s message was reportedly aimed at speaking directly to the men and women with whom he served in the UK. He is said to strongly believe that despite the end of conflicts such as the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan and the subsequent reduction of operational tempo, he and the wider British public have not forgotten those who hung up their uniforms.
In 2020, the year he resigned as senior royal and moved to the US with the Duchess of Sussex, Harry was reportedly upset after his request to place a poppy wreath in his name at the Cenotaph was rejected. Months later, after her decision to live a life of personal and financial independence was made permanent, Queen Elizabeth II agreed. Their military patronage was removed by Elizabeth.
He has consistently emphasized 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 my perspective on sacrifice and service. I was born into a life of duty, but throughout my ten years in the military I was dedicated to a life of service.”
He added that this made me the person I am today. Harry founded the Invictus Games competition for wounded, wounded and sick servicemen and women more than a decade ago in 2014, and Birmingham recently won 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.
