Prince Harry Talks About Combat Stress, Tells Boy He Won’t Be King, And Swears A Little Too
Prince Harry can relate to combat psychological stress, he said this morning. Speaking to Sky News, Harry described “psychological injuries” suffered by combatants as “one of those slide shows that go through your mind…everything that you see, especially if it’s something that is quite powerful, then that slide is in there. It’s always in there and if you have dark moments in your life those slides will pop up.”
Harry was promoting the Invictus Games, which is a Paralympics-style event set up to “inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women,” according to its website. Harry explained that treating mental trauma is as important as physical injuries for the military.
“‘You know there are images I’ve been lucky enough not to see, but there have been images that I’ve been unfortunate to see, nothing like some of these guys, but yes there is a percentage of me being able to relate to exactly what they go through…One of the most powerful things is this guilt, and the majority of guys that suffer from psychological injuries…have absolutely nothing wrong with them apart from all ‘up here,’ and that’s very hard for people to accept…there’s a lot of guilt and there’s a lot of blame.'”
Prince Harry was taking part in a “special edition of Sky Sports children’s program Game Changers” and was joined by several injured veterans who are also Invictus Games participants. Harry said it was important to involve children in Invictus because of their “frank approach.”
“‘They have no problem with going up to someone and saying: ‘You’ve got no legs, why?’ and these guys are a little bit upset, a little bit bored of the parents pulling the kids away saying, leave the poor man alone, they would much rather tell their story.'”
During the program, the children asked questions, and 9-year-old Tristan asked what everyone wants to know: Will Prince Harry ever be King Henry? Sadly the answer is no, but Tristan did get a high-five from the fifth in line to the throne.
Watch: Prince Harry tell disappointed 9 yr old he likely won't be king pic.twitter.com/oguXkyMp0z
— Simon Perry (@SPerryPeoplemag) April 27, 2016
The prince also made a quick guest appearance on BBC Radio 2 to promote the Games, which he founded in 2014. Prince Harry appeared alongside Invictus captain David Wiseman, reports the Telegraph.
“‘I started the Games to create a platform so these individuals like Wisey, next to me, can use the platform they way they want to use it…You forget that some of these guys have been literally stuck on the sofa for months and months and months on end with major anxiety, unable to leave the house for whatever reason – and to be able to use this platform, the way they want to use it rather than being told this is what it was all about.'”
Prince Harry, never averse to courting controversy, added a throwaway line, which has upset quite a lot of people in the U.K.
“They want to serve their country again, put on the union jack on their left breast and go out and kick the arse out of life.”
While most people can think of worse swear words than a**e, the Brits were either not amused or killing themselves with laughter. Big brother Prince William has to curb his cheekiness as the number two heir, but Harry has no such qualms.
Later, Prince Harry did a “spoof segment on ‘breaking news,’ reading out the less-than-exciting activities listeners were planning that day.” The comments that Harry got to read out included this gem from Rachel in South Wales, “Left nostril has finally unblocked after six weeks.”
Prince Harry will be in Orlando early next month to prepare for the Invictus Games and support the U.K. team. The Invictus Games take place from May 8 to May 12.
[Photo by Pool/Getty Images]
