Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2021 holiday card with Archie and Lilibet.Photo: Alexi Lubomirski
Prince Harrywill pass down lessons from his military experience to his children,ArchieandLilibet.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE for this week’s cover story,Prince Harryshares what he wants his kids to know about his 10 years of service in the British Army, including two tours in Afghanistan.
“That I am grateful for every experience I had in and out of my uniform,” he says. “That I learned how to be in true service for others. That finding your purpose is one of the most gratifying experiences. And that working hard should be fulfilling and rewarding at the same time.”
“Being a dad certainly adds another emotional layer to it,” the Duke of Sussex says. “When I was in the Army, I promised myself I would be out before having a wife and kids, because I couldn’t imagine the heartache of being apart for so long during deployment, the risk of possibly getting injured and the reality that my family’s lives could be changed forever if that happened.”
“Every member of the Invictus community has experienced varying degrees of these things. I have tremendous respect for what they and their families sacrifice in the name of service,” he adds. “For the dads and mums who have served, and have been wounded or injured or fallen ill, there’s nothing that compares to seeing them rediscover their ability to do whatever they put their minds to. There’s nothing like seeing their kids watch proudly from the stands. It’s a true inspiration and a deeply touching experience.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Samir Hussein/WireImage
“Being a father, there’s an immediate connection that we share,” Smith tells PEOPLE.
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“I showed him how some were missing legs and explained that some had invisible injuries, too,” he continued. “Not because he asked, but because I wanted to tell him. Kids understand so much, and to see it through his eyes was amazing because it’s so unfiltered and honest.”
source: people.com
