Prince Harry sent a letter to the military bereavement charity Scotty’s, where he told those who had lost a loved one that navigating grief “doesn’t leave you”
Prince Harry has told military families who have lost a loved one they are “not alone” and that navigating grief “doesn’t leave you” ahead of Remembrance weekend.
The Duke of Sussex sent a message to the military bereavement charity Scotty’s, paying tribute to lost family members and thanking them for their service. Harry, who completed two tours of duty of Afghanistan, is understood to be marking Remembrance Sunday – the first since he has returned to live in the UK – privately this year.
In 2020, the year he stepped down as a senior working royal and moved to the US with the Duchess of Sussex, Harry was left saddened when he was refused his wish to have a poppy wreath placed at the Cenotaph on his behalf. Just months later, the Duke was stripped of his military patronages by his grandmother, the late Queen.
To mark this year’s Remembrance period, Harry’s letter was shared with adults, as well as children and young people, following Scotty’s recent extension of its services to support anyone affected by military-connected bereavement.
The Duke opened his letter by saying: “Whether you’re a young person who has been part of Scotty’s Little Soldiers for years, or someone older who is just now discovering this community under the new name Scotty’s, I’m glad you found us.
“Navigating the grief of losing a loved one doesn’t leave you, no matter how old you are. Know that you are not alone, as this is one of the most universal experiences of being human. Scotty’s will be with you every step of the way.
“When I was in the British Army, knowing someone had your back meant everything. I recognise that same spirit at Scotty’s, where the people around you will understand without you having to explain. They just get it, and that alone brings comfort and relief.”
He adds: “No matter where you are in your journey, grief can often catch you by surprise, even years after a loss has occurred. You reach a milestone you wish your loved one could see, or find yourself longing for their advice. There is no timetable for that, and there should be no deadline for asking for help.
“As the nation pauses to honour and remember the service and sacrifice of our military families past and present, I want to pay tribute to your loved ones and thank them for their service.
“Above all, I know just as you do that they are so much more than a uniform or a name read out loud each November. They are a parent, child, sibling, partner, family member or friend who is loved and deeply missed.
“To those gathering in London for Scotty’s Remembrance weekend, I hope being together brings comfort, pride, and even joy. That is, after all, what our loved ones would want.”
Nikki Scott set up Scotty’s, known then as Scotty’s Little Soldiers, in 2010 after her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009, leaving behind their two young children.
She said: “It means so much to have the duke’s continued support. His Remembrance letter has become something our children and young people look forward to receiving each year, and it feels particularly special that this year his message will reach our wider Scotty’s community too.
“When I founded Scotty’s, it was to support children and young people who, like my own children, had experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
“Children and young people will always be at the heart of what we do, but over the years we have learnt so much about the wider impact of military bereavement and the different ways it can affect people, which is why we have extended our support.
“Remembrance is an important time for our community. Behind every name being remembered is someone who was loved and is deeply missed. I hope this letter reminds everyone in our community that they are not alone, that the person they are remembering matters, and that Scotty’s is here for them.”
Scotty’s supports those grieving the death of someone who had served in the British Armed Forces, whatever their relationship to the person who died, or the cause or circumstances of their death. It also supports those who serve or have served in the forces and are experiencing a bereavement of their own.
About 100 people from the Scotty’s community will come together in London over Remembrance weekend to honour loved ones who served in the Armed Forces.
Harry’s letter comes just hours after he made a surprise appearance last night at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards at the Old Naval College in London, where he gave a keynote speech in his role as a founder of environmental tourism initiative, Travalyst.
It has also emerged that earlier this week, he visited New York under-the-radar, where it is understood he had meetings focused on new business opportunities.
Next week, he and Meghan are to carry out a visit to Brussels, as they resume public appearances in the wake of child sexual abuse image allegations facing Meghan’s father.
Harry and Meghan will deliver a joint keynote address on the importance of children’s digital safety at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial in the European Parliament on Tuesday. It is expected to be the first time the pair will have been seen together since Thomas Markle Snr was reported to police in the Philippines and the FBI over a haul of suspected child abuse images. He denies the allegations.
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