In a scathing rebuke, Prince Harry has hit out at former US President Donald Trump over his false claims regarding the role of British troops in the conflict in Afghanistan. The Duke of Sussex, a former Army Air Corps co-pilot gunner who undertook two frontline tours in Afghanistan, said the “sacrifices” of British personnel who fought and died in the country “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.”
Prince Harry’s comments come after Trump suggested in a Fox News interview that NATO allies “stayed a little off the front line” in Afghanistan, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. In fact, more than 1,100 non-US coalition fighters, the majority from NATO countries, lost their lives in the conflict that began in 2001. The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths, behind only the US.
The Duke of Sussex, who was known as “Harry the Brave” during his decade-long military career, said the 457 British service personnel who died in Afghanistan had their “lives changed forever.” He added that “Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.”
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has described Trump’s remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling,” while demanding an apology. Tory MP Kemi Badenoch also condemned the former president’s claims as “flat-out nonsense,” stating that “British, Canadian, and NATO troops fought and died alongside the US for 20 years.”
The backlash against Trump’s comments has been widespread, with veterans and politicians from across the political spectrum joining Prince Harry in defending the sacrifices made by British troops in Afghanistan. As the Duke of Sussex said, “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.”
