On November 11, while we in the US observe Veteran’s Day, citizens of the UK will observe Remembrance Day. As the solemn day approaches, Prince Harry reflected on what it means to be British.
While preparing for his visit to Canada to participate in Remembrance Day events, the prince published a surprise essay. The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What it means to be British is Harry’s love letter to the British spirit.
“Every November, the world, for a moment, grows quieter,” he wrote. “We pause, together, to remember. Remembrance has never been about glorifying war. It’s about recognizing its cost: the lives changed forever and the lessons paid for, through unimaginable sacrifice. It’s also about honoring those who, knowing that cost, still choose to serve.”
Prince Harry won’t apologize for being proud to be British
Photo Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (for now) moved to America in 2020, after stepping away from their royal roles. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan Markle are raising their two children Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, in California, far from the aggressive British press.
“Though currently, I may live in the United States, Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for,” Harry continued. “The banter of the mess, the clubhouse, the pub … these are the things that make us British. I make no apology for it. I love it.”
The royal family has a long tradition of serving in the British military. Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip, served in the Navy, as did his father King Charles.
Harry served in the British Army from 2005 to 2015. During that time, he deployed twice to Afghanistan and rose to the rank of captain. Afterward, he created the Invictus Games as an international adaptive sports tournament to uplift veterans. He believes the Games are “proof that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.”
“So, as we bow our heads this weekend, let us remember not only the fallen, but the living,” Harry urged, “those who still carry the weight of war in body and mind, and the families who bear its memory in their hearts.”
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