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Prince Harry: 'I understand bereaved children'

The Archewell Foundation Prince Harry wearing a yellow and black scarf and a blue suit jacket. He has a red poppy on his lapel. He is also wearing a white shirt, open at the neck, and looking straight at the camera and smiling. He is standing next to a brick wall. There is foliage behind him. The Archewell Foundation
Prince Harry sent Scotty’s Little Soldiers a photo of him wearing their yellow and black scarf

Prince Harry has told bereaved military children he understands "perhaps more than most, the weight of losing a parent at a young age".

The Duke of Sussex made the comment in his annual letter to Scotty's Little Soldiers, a charity based in King's Lynn, Norfolk.

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, the prince - the charity's global ambassador - said it was "not only time to honour the extraordinary sacrifices made by our service members but also to recognise the impact these sacrifices have on families".

The founder of Scotty's Little Soldiers - for young people who have lost a parent who has served in the British armed forces - said it "means so much to them to know he is thinking about them".

Scotty’s Little Soldiers A large group of young people, and several adults, standing outside a building in London, with the London Eye in the distance. They are all wearing black and yellow scarves. Three people are holding up a banner and two are holding paddles. They are all smiling and looking straight at the camera. Scotty’s Little Soldiers
Members of Scotty’s Little Soldiers at a remembrance event in London in 2023

More than 50 members of the charity will take part in Saturday's Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance. They will also march past the Cenotaph during the National Service of Remembrance on Sunday.

Prince Harry's letter added: "We find strength in the love and memories left behind, and I have seen how communities like yours can offer deep comfort and healing.

"Scotty’s Little Soldiers embodies this spirit of community.

"In coming together to support one another, you not only honour the memories of your loved ones but also forge bonds that can and will carry you through the toughest times.

"The tears and laughter, the shared experiences, and the moments of joy you create together are powerful reminders that love endures."

The charity was set up by Nikki Scott and honours her husband, Cpl Lee "Scotty" Scott, killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2009.

In response to the duke's letter, Ms Scott said: "He understands what it is like for our members to grow up without their parent, and he also knows the sacrifices made by servicemen and women."

She said the letter has now become an annual tradition.

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