In a powerful statement, Prince Harry has called for the sacrifices made by Nato troops in Afghanistan to be “spoken about truthfully and with respect.” The Duke of Sussex, who served twice in the country, made the remarks in response to controversial comments made by former US President Donald Trump, who claimed that allies “stayed a little back” from the frontlines.
“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” Prince Harry said, paying tribute to the 457 UK service personnel who lost their lives in the conflict. The prince emphasised that in 2001, Nato invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in its history, obligating every allied nation to stand with the United States in Afghanistan.
“Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost,” he added, stressing that these sacrifices deserve to be acknowledged with honesty and respect.
Trump’s comments have drawn widespread condemnation, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing them as “insulting and frankly appalling.” Starmer said he would have apologised if he had “misspoken in that way,” and vowed never to forget the “courage, their bravery and the sacrifice” of the troops.
Other political leaders, including Conservative’s Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat’s Sir Ed Davey, have also criticised Trump’s remarks, with Badenoch calling it a “disgrace to denigrate their memory like that.” Davey, who pointed out that Trump had avoided military service five times during the Vietnam War, said, “How dare he question their sacrifice.”
The anger over Trump’s comments has also been echoed by military figures and families of those who served in Afghanistan. Cpl Andy Reid, who lost both his legs and his right arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device, said, “If they were on the front line and I was stood next to them, clearly we were on the front line as well.”
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson was regarded as the most severely injured British soldier to survive in Afghanistan, described Trump’s words as “so insulting” and the “ranting of a child.” She called on Starmer to address the comments directly to the former US president.
As the UK and its allies continue to grapple with the legacy of the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan, Prince Harry’s powerful statement serves as a timely reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those who served, and the importance of acknowledging their bravery and commitment with the respect they deserve.
