Service should be appreciated after veterans no longer wear uniform, says Duke of Sussex
The Duke of Sussex has said the service of fellow veterans should be appreciated, even when they no longer wear their uniform.
The Duke, who spent 10 years in the British Army before stepping down as a working member of the Royal family, said that “contributions do not stop because you no longer wear the uniform” in a message to mark Remembrance Day and US Veterans Day.
He added: “The collective sense of appreciation for what you have done for your countries should not stop either.”
The Duke, who founded the Invictus Games for sick and wounded veterans, no longer holds the honorary military titles he had during his working royal life and was initially not permitted to wear uniform to Elizabeth II’s funeral – a decision that was later reversed.
At the time, his spokesman said: “His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears.”
In the message, he addressed his “fellow veterans” to tell them of his “lifelong admiration and appreciation” for their “service and sacrifice”.
“Your contributions do not stop because you no longer wear the uniform, and the collective sense of appreciation for what you have done for your countries should not stop either,” he wrote.
‘A time of global uncertainty’
The Duke, who undertook two tours in Afghanistan, is said to have sent bags of sweets to the children of the Scotty’s Little Soldiers charity, whose parents died in military service.
In the statement on the Sussexes website, he thanked ex-servicemen and women for having played a “vital role in defending the values of liberty, freedom, and security”.
He added: “At a time of global uncertainty, remember the unity and purpose that defined your service, and do not hesitate to put that into action in your communities.
“That same spirit should guide all of us in facing today’s challenges. Your example and morality demonstrate that true power lies in our ability to unite and confront the obstacles before us.”
The Duke, who lives in California with the Duchess of Sussex and their children, is reported to have asked that a wreath be laid at the Cenotaph in his name in 2020. The request was denied, and he was instead photographed laying flowers in a Los Angeles cemetery wearing his medals.
In this year’s message, the Duke says: “My Fellow Veterans, As we mark both Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, I reaffirm my lifelong admiration and appreciation for the service and sacrifice you and your families have made – both in times of conflict and peace.”
Saying he was “honoured to stand with” them, the Duke added: “Let today be a reminder that the true measure of gratitude is not in words alone, but in our actions and our ongoing efforts to build a world worthy of the sacrifices that those before us have made and to protect it for generations to come.
“To all those who have served – past and present – I offer my deepest respect and thanks. Your service has made a lasting, positive impact for our communities, our nations, and our shared future.”
