Prince Harry pens letter to bereaved children of military personnel to mark Remembrance Sunday telling them grief is ‘nothing to be ashamed of’ and ‘losing a parent as a child is incredibly tough’

Prince Harry has penned a letter to children whose parents have died while serving in the armed forces telling them ‘grief is nothing to be ashamed of’.

In a letter to Scotty’s Little Soldiers, The Duke of Sussex said he was ‘thinking of them’ in a difficult time and that he understands how difficult it is to lose a parent at a young age.

Harry, 39, who has worked with the charity for years, has now been officially named as a Global Ambassador of the organisation.

‘Growing up, having lost a parent, is immensely difficult,’ he wrote.

‘But being part of such a strong and resilient community like Scotty’s can really help. Spending time with people who understand what you may be feeling and who can rally around you in moments of need is something to cherish. 

‘Scotty’s will be there for you year-round, and I encourage you to take full advantage of all this community has to offer’.

Prince Harry has penned a letter to children whose parents have died while serving in the armed forces telling them ‘grief is nothing to be ashamed of’. Pictured yesterday in San Diego 

In a letter to Scotty’s Little Soldiers, The Duke of Sussex said he was ‘thinking of them’ in a difficult time and that he understands how difficult it is to lose a parent at a young age (pictured with Princess Diana in the 1990s)

Harry, who served in Afghanistan, has been open about his struggles over the death of his mother, and has worked with Veterans, including setting up the Invictus Games, after retiring from the Armed Forces.

In the letter, the royal also explains that he hopes their remembrance is ‘filled with comfort, support, and shared understanding’.

‘This is an incredibly important and emotional time of year, when so many come together to pay their respects to your military parents and our military family, for their service and for their sacrifice.’

He added that it’s ‘normal’ to feel sadness from loss.

‘On this Remembrance Sunday, I hope you carry a sense of pride for your mum or dad, as they do for you, with the understanding that they will never be forgotten.

‘It’s an honour for me to be a part of this community alongside you,’ he finished the letter, before signing it from ‘The Duke of Sussex’.

Charity Founder Nikki Scott said:  ‘We are really excited Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex is joining Scotty’s as a Global Ambassador. 

‘He’s supported Scotty’s for a number of years and having been bereaved as a child himself and having served in the British Armed Forces, including deploying to Afghanistan, Prince Harry resonates with our members. 

Harry, who served in Afghanistan, has been open about his struggles over the death of his mother, and has worked with Veterans, including setting up the Invictus Games, after retiring from the Armed Forces

The Duke, who has been involved with the charity since 2017, was recently asked to be its first-ever Global Ambassador.

‘They know he truly understands them and the challenges they face as bereaved military children. 

‘The Duke is also able to use his profile to help raise awareness of the charity, meaning that we can reach and support more children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.’ 

The news comes as Harry paid tribute to troops in the US.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle both wore poppies as they visited United States Navy SEALs in San Diego last night and watched as someone else cut the ribbon on a new fitness centre for veterans.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the Navy SEAL Foundation for the official opening of a new training base, known as the ‘West Coast Warrior Fitness Programme’ facility, ahead of Veterans Day on November 11.

Meghan ushered Harry forwards but stood in front of her husband before they watched as Foundation CEO Robin King cut the ribbon – with the Duchess waving to the small crowd before the couple entered the building for a tour without saying any words. 

Earlier in the day the Duchess of Sussex also wore a $1,490 Carolina Herrera cardigan, embroidered with poppies – the symbol of remembrance for all those who lost their lives on active service, from the beginning of the First World War right up to present day.

The couple were meeting veterans, servicemen and women and and their loved-ones at Camp Pendleton.

It came as across the Atlantic, tensions continued to simmer with Harry’s family with experts claiming ‘the rift in the Royal Family could not be wider’. The Duke of Sussex‘s spokesman had slammed reports Harry had snubbed his father’s 75th birthday party next week, claiming he was never invited.

Prince Harry also did a stand-up comedy video for a charity event in New York on Monday night, with a video released in the UK just before his father set off to give his first King’s Speech to Parliament. 

And then yesterday in Singapore Prince William delivered a pitch to be King as he insisted he wants to ‘go a step further’ than his family and bring real change to the causes he supports, after his Earthshot Awards were held.

Meghan spotted Harry behind her talking to a dignitary – ushering him forward before the ribbon cutting 

Earlier in the day, the Duchess of Sussex also wore a $1,490 Carolina Herrera cardigan embroidered with poppies – the symbol of remembrance – at Camp Pendleton in San Diego yesterday

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex then went on to an event for injured United States Navy SEALs in San Diego

The royal couple went to two events yesterday ahead of Veterans Day in the US

Meghan and Harry have helped cut the ribbon on a new military. CEO of the Navy SEAL Foundation  Robin King did the honours while others including former Navy SEAL Tony Duynstee (far left) watched on

Meghan then waved to the small crowd and media who had gathered to watch the ribbon cutting

Meghan stood in front of Harry as they listened to a speech from the Foundation. They did not speak themselves

Harry was speaking to organisers of the event where he visited United States Navy SEALs in San Diego last night

The Prince of Wales praised the work of other Royal Family members ‘spotlighting’ important causes, but insisted he wanted to do more than ‘just being’ a patron.

William’s remarks as his visit to Singapore comes to a close will likely raise eyebrows at Buckingham Palace as he continues to set out a vision for the monarchy’s future.

Meghan and Harry’s visit to the Marine base at Pendleton was announced on Wednesday by the website of their foundation, Archewell.

Archewell said that they ‘spent the morning with veteran and activeduty service members and their loved-ones at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.’

The pair were pictured with around a dozen people at a discussion table, and according to Archewell learned about the work of Operation Bigs, a mentoring program set up in 2004.

The scheme connects military children and families with others who have gone through similar experiences.

Pioneered by Camp Pendleton, it has in the last nine years served more than 3,000 Navy and Marine Corps children, according to Archewell, and has expanded to over 30 affiliates across the country.

Harry, wearing a red Remembrance Day poppy in his lapel, and Meghan in a $1,490 navy Carolina Herrera cardigan, embroidered with red poppies, were photographed speaking to people on the base and being told about the work on site.

Meghan paired her wool cardigan with a black pencil skirt.

The couple were pictured at the ceremony along with Former Navy vice admiral Sean Averell Pybus and former Navy SEAL Tony Duynstee, who both gave speeches at the opening ceremony. 

The prince, 39, spent a decade in the British Army, serving two tours of Afghanistan.

He and his wife, 42, have spent previous Veterans’ Days on military sites: in 2021, they were at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, and in 2020 visited a military cemetery in Los Angeles.

The Duchess of Sussex, wearing a $1,490 Carolina Herrera poppy cardigan, is seen on Wednesday at Camp Pendleton in California

Last year Harry visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

After visiting Camp Pendleton, Meghan and Harry then traveled to downtown San Diego to open up a new gym for Navy SEALs and veterans wounded in combat.

The 20,000-square-foot Warrior Fitness Program West Coast Facility is the second site to open, after a Virginia Beach facility launched in 2017.

The foundation already has helped more than 800 active-duty and veteran SEALs and surface warfare combatant crewman.

Both sites now have advanced technology, equipment and personnel, The Times of San Diego reported, designed to help with physical and mental recovery.