Duke of Sussex fronts wellbeing initiative

THE Duke of Sussex has spearheaded a new mental fitness tool aimed at helping the military with their wellbeing.

The former soldier appears in a video on Headfit.org, which offers a 24-hour self-help service.

The Duke, now living in Los Angeles after quitting as a working royal, urges members of the Armed Forces to train their “mind and body as one”.

“When we talk about fitness, we don’t just mean how fast you can run or how much weight you can carry,” he says in the video. “This is about mental fitness, strength and resilience, not just while wearing a uniform, but for the rest of your life. If you want to be truly fit, strong and healthy, you need to train your mind and body as one.”

The project was due to be unveiled in June, but its launch was brought forward to help service personnel deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been developed in partnership with the Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign, the Ministry of Defence and King’s College London, with clinical advice from psychologist Dr Vanessa Moulton. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the joint foundation with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last year, but it was said at the time that there would be future collaboration on Heads Together.

The Duke’s military appointments, including his position as Captain General of the Royal Marines, have been put on hold for the next 12 months. In a statement, he said HEADFIT has been almost three years in the making, adding: “HEADFIT is a proactive approach to mental fitness, focusing on our potential to increase our performance, using proven methods in sport science.

The platform includes breathing exercises, body posture and relaxation techniques, and was designed for all defence personnel from new recruits, long-serving personnel and veterans to civilian staff and those in uniform.