After learning the value of ‘true service’ during his ten years in the Army, Prince Harry says he wants to teach his children Archie and Lili the importance of ‘finding your purpose’ in life.
Prince Harry has revealed that he wants to instill the value of ‘finding your purpose’ in his children Archie and Lili.The Duke of Sussex, 37, served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and serving two tours in Afghanistan. He is currently in The Hague for the Invictus Games.
The royal, who lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their son Archie, nearly three, and daughter Lilibet, ten months, was asked by People Magazine what he plans to tell his children about his time in the army.
While the father of two had his military titles stripped from him when he stepped down as a senior royal in 2020, he said his time in the military taught him how to be “in true service” to others.
He said, “I am grateful for every experience I had in and out of my uniform.”
‘I discovered how to truly serve others.’ Finding your purpose is one of the most fulfilling experiences you can have. And that working hard should be both satisfying and rewarding,’ he added.
The Invictus Games were founded by the royal family in 2014, and the royal family has been heavily involved in the event since then.
The father of two said he can’t wait to bring his kids to the competition, and that his oldest, Archie, is already aware of it.
Harry revealed that he showed Archie video clips from the 2018 Invictus Games, which were held in Sydney.
The ‘proud papa’ said he told his three-year-old son about the visible injuries some of the players had, as well as the mental injuries some of them suffered during their time in the Army.
The Duke of Sussex also admitted that organizing the Games while also being a father added an extra layer of emotion to the occasion.
Harry revealed that he promised himself that he would only find a wife and start a family after he had left the military because he couldn’t stand being apart for so long, as well as the risk of being injured or killed.
The father-of-two went on to say that most of the people competing in the Games have dealt with these issues in some way, and that he has a great deal of respect for them as a result.
The royal expressed his delight at being able to share the Games with his wife Meghan, admitting that he had always desired someone with whom to share these moments.
Their visit was the couple’s first extended stay in Europe since the pandemic began in 2020.
Lilibet, their daughter, has never met the Queen or Prince Charles, and Archie, who is six months old, hasn’t seen his paternal grandparents or great-grandparents since he was six months old.
Before the Games began in the Netherlands, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with the Queen in secret in Windsor.
The Monarch is also said to be eager for Harry and Meghan to join her at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour, as it could be the last big family balcony appearance of her reign.
On public outings, the Queen, who turned 96 on Thursday, has been struggling with mobility issues and uses a walking stick. Longer engagements, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s thanksgiving service, must be meticulously planned to minimize Her Majesty’s time on her feet.
There’s a chance that by next year’s Trooping the Colour, which takes place two months after the Queen’s 97th birthday, the task of standing on the balcony to watch the fly past will be too much for Her Majesty.
Prince Charles has also stated that if he succeeds to the throne, he wants to usher in a “slimmed down” monarchy. It’s possible that in the future, rather than the large family gathering it is now, Trooping the Colour will only be attended by the monarch and their line of descendants – the Cambridges.
The Queen’s frailty means she won’t be able to attend all of the Jubilee events planned. She does, however, intend to watch Trooping the Colour and then appear with her family on the balcony.
The Queen is usually accompanied by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other distant relatives such as her niece, nephew, and cousins.
She has extended the invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, whom she last saw together in over two years when they stopped at Windsor Castle on their way to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands last week.
Following their decision to step down as working members of the Royal Family, Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, would attend in an informal capacity.
According to the Daily Telegraph, “the moment will be particularly poignant because it will likely mark the last big family balcony appearance of her reign.”
When Harry and Meghan met the Queen at Windsor Castle last week, they reportedly promised her that she would get to hug her great-grandchildren Archie and Lilibet ‘in the near future,’ before heading to The Hague for the Invictus Games.
However, sources warn that the Sussexes’ attendance will have to be carefully managed and will require a ‘leap of faith’ on all sides after the couple made a string of damaging claims since quitting royal life and moving to Montecito, including bombshell allegations of racism against an unnamed senior royal made in their Oprah tell-all last year.
Harry would also have to backtrack amid a security dispute after filing a lawsuit against the Home Office, claiming that he didn’t feel safe bringing his family to the UK because the government refused to provide them with police protection.
The Sussexes’ spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph on Monday that they were unable to comment on future travel plans.
The Queen is determined to attend as many events as possible during her four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend, despite the fact that her mobility issues will prevent her from being as visible as she once was.
