Prince Harry shared his experience of growing up without his mother when he chatted with bereaved military children at a social event organised by Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
“I didn’t speak about losing my mum for well over ten years. I thought, what is the point in talking about something that you can’t change? I was wrong, talking about it changed my life,” he told them.
The prince is a long-standing supporter and a Global Ambassador for the charity that supports children and young people who have lost a parent in the British armed forces. He surprised the children, aged six to 22, when he joined them at the event in London on May 9, then spent time chatting to them and their parents, and joining in games like Edible Races and Bucket Head.
He later spent time with members of Scotty’s Council, who represent the charity’s members and provide a voice for them. They discussed their experiences of growing up without a parent and the invaluable support they receive from Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
Molly Reynolds, 20, has been a member of Scotty’s since 2018, following the death of her father, Sgt Antony Reynolds, who served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). She was 14 when he took his own life.
She said: “My favourite part of the day was definitely getting to sit in a circle with Prince Harry and having a chat with him about losing a parent. It was very nice because it felt very personal and like he understood what we were going through.”
The prince said it was an honour to meet families supported by Scotty’s Little Soldiers. “I have long believed in the mission of this charity, and I truly believe the work they do to foster community and create space for young people to connect, grieve, but also have fun together, is life-changing.”
Charity founder Nikki Scott said it was amazing to see the smiles on children’s faces when the prince walked in. “The Duke of Sussex has supported Scotty’s for a long time, which means a lot to our members because they know he understands what it’s like to experience the death of a parent and the challenges they face. It’s important to our members to maintain their connection to the military community, which Prince Harry is also passionate about.”
Scotty’s supports more than 670 bereaved military children and young people, aged up to 25. Services include one-to-one child bereavement support, guidance to parents and carers, personal education and learning assistance and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind members they are not alone. You can see a video of the visit at scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/prince-harry-surprises-bereaved-military-children.
Picture: Scotty’s Little Soldiers