Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Meghan and I were shocked to core by the agony our war veterans suffer...
Harry & fiancee meet ex-soldiers
PRINCE Harry has told how he and Meghan Markle were deeply moved when they held a private meeting with traumatised war veterans.
The royal, who served in the military for 10 years, revealed in a speech how he had taken his fiancee to see the work of causes close to his heart.
This included a recent visit to Colchester Garrison where the couple spoke to ex-servicemen and women being helped by North Essex Veterans Mental Health Network.
Harry, 33, said: “Some of the stories Meghan and I heard when we visited Colchester Garrison a few weeks ago shocked us to our core.
“But despite meeting these people and others in the darkest of places, I am continually surrounded and inspired by amazingly positive outcomes.”
The prince’s comments, at the Veterans’ Mental Health Conference at King’s College London yesterday, came as he insisted “military service is enriching and good for society”.
RESPECT
Harry said: “My time in the Army gave me the strongest respect for everyone who wears the uniform. It is a community I am proud to belong to, and I will always seek out any way that I can to support it.
“I have seen those I have served with suffer, struggling to seek out the help they desperately need. And we know there are more just like them who continue to suffer in silence.”
Meghan, 36, has been holding meetings with charities as she prepares to carve out her own role in “The Firm”.
The project she visited in Essex is designed to give veterans all the help they need in one place.
Harry praised it for doing “amazing work” and also encouraged employers to take on ex-services personnel.
He added: “Our experiences show that employers value veterans and we want to push that message that they are incredible assets to any business. Any employer would be lucky to have them as part of your team – and that’s a fact.”
Harry and Meghan will marry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19. -