Harry’s service not in doubt

Sir, – I see from the letters in today’s Courier (November 5) that Mr Rankin is again venting his spleen against a member of the Royal Family – this time it is Prince Harry who is, according to him, gadding about on the other side of the world at our expense.

He has conveniently ignored the reason why Harry was there in the first place – to open the Invictus Games which he started in 2014 to give a purpose and hope of life to those service personnel who were badly injured, lost limbs or were seriously traumatised during their time serving their country overseas.

Harry, of course, knew from personal experience of the suffering these men and women experienced, having served as a helicopter pilot on the front line overseas.

Perhaps Mr Rankin has forgotten Prince Andrew served as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War drawing Argentine exocet missiles away from the British warships. Even our Queen – then Princess Elizabeth – did her bit during the Second World War as an army motor mechanic.

Perhaps Mr Rankin should give a bit more thought in future before he pours more vitriol on our Royal Family. It may seem to him to be a waste of money for what Harry has achieved but how can one put a price on the benefits gained by the contestants and their families at the Invictus Games which were truly memorable and emotional for all of them? John M Page. Panter Crescent, Montrose.

The low-life thugs who throw coins, set off flares and otherwise taint and tarnish football will not behave better with access to booze at football grounds