Every November, as autumn deepens and red poppies bloom on lapels across the United Kingdom, the nation pauses to remember. This year, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has added his own poignant voice to the chorus of reflection, penning a heartfelt essay published on November 5, 2025, that explores the meaning of Britishness and the enduring importance of Remembrance. His words, a blend of nostalgia, pride, and gentle admonition, arrive as the country prepares for the annual Remembrance events, including the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, November 10.
In his essay, titled "The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What It Means To Be British," Prince Harry draws on his decade of military service, including two frontline tours in Afghanistan, to articulate what he believes lies at the heart of British identity. "The banter of the mess, the clubhouse, the pub, the stands—ridiculous as it sounds, these are the things that make us British. I make no apology for it. I love it," he writes, as reported by BBC and The Independent. This sense of camaraderie and good-humoured self-deprecation, Harry contends, is a defining trait of Britishness, one that binds communities together in times of both peace and hardship.
Though now residing some 5,500 miles away in Montecito, California, with his wife Meghan and their two children, Prince Harry makes it clear that his connection to the UK remains unbroken. "Though currently, I may live in the United States, Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for," he affirms. His reflections are not merely personal musings; they are a call to collective responsibility, urging readers to remember not only the fallen but also the living—veterans who, once their uniforms come off, can all too easily feel forgotten.
"Remembrance has never been about glorifying war. It's about recognising its cost: the lives changed forever and the lessons paid for, through unimaginable sacrifice. It's also about honouring those who, knowing that cost, still choose to serve," Harry writes in his essay, as quoted by Daily Mail. He emphasizes that remembrance is not confined to a single weekend or a minute's silence, but is instead "a lifelong commitment to empathy, gratitude, and action; to be kinder, more united, and braver in protecting what those before us fought to preserve."
Drawing inspiration from his recent visit to Ukraine, where he spent time with wounded veterans at the Superhumans center, Harry notes a kinship between the British and Ukrainian spirits. "There is a similar stoic spirit of self-deprecation and humour in Ukrainians, that I recognise more than any other, in us Brits," he observes. The resilience and determination he witnessed among Ukrainians rebuilding their lives after devastating injuries reminded him that "bravery is not the absence of fear, but the triumph of purpose over it."
Harry's essay is rich with tributes to those he served alongside—men and women from all four corners of the UK, "from Antrim to Anglesey, Lancashire to London, Wrexham to the East Riding, Belfast to Bedfordshire and beyond." He recalls witnessing "courage and compassion in the harshest conditions imaginable," but also acknowledges the challenges veterans face after service. "I also saw how easy it can be, once the uniform comes off, for those who gave everything, to feel forgotten," he writes. "Our duty to them does not end when their service does. The protection they offered us must be returned through opportunity and respect for the rest of their lives. That's not charity; it's reciprocity. They safeguarded our freedom. We must safeguard their future. That way we all benefit."
He urges the public to take concrete steps in supporting veterans: "If you live near them, knock on their door. If you see them around, shake their hand. And if you feel so inclined, join them for a cuppa...or a pint, to hear their story and remind them their service still matters." This is not just a symbolic gesture, but a reminder that the bonds forged in service extend beyond the battlefield and into the heart of British communities.
The Duke also pays tribute to the families of the fallen, highlighting the work of Scotty's Little Soldiers, a UK charity supporting children of Britain’s fallen heroes. Each year, he is "moved by their strength; sons and daughters who wear yellow and black scarves in honour of their parents, many of them marching proudly at the Cenotaph this weekend. They don’t march with bitterness, but with love and pride. They carry forward their parents’ legacy of service even as their own hearts bear the cost of it. Because when one person serves, the whole family serves. And when one falls, the whole community feels that loss."
Harry’s commitment to veterans is evident in his founding of the Invictus Games in 2014, a competition celebrating the courage and camaraderie of wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women. He notes that "you need only spend a few hours at the Invictus Games to feel it. There, you see courage reborn, camaraderie restored, and proof that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off." Birmingham is set to host the Games in the UK in 2027, continuing the legacy of support for those who have served.
Amid these reflections, Harry acknowledges the fragility of peace in today’s world. "As we look around the world this Remembrance Sunday and, on the 11th, peace for those lucky enough to know it, feels more fragile than ever. Institutions built to protect it are being strained, and for many, peace is not known at all," he writes. It is a sobering reminder that remembrance is not only about the past, but also about safeguarding the future.
Harry’s message comes as he embarks on a two-day visit to Toronto to meet Canadian veterans and military charities, marking Remembrancetide—the two-week period leading up to Remembrance Sunday. His essay was released while his brother, Prince William, is in Brazil for the Earthshot environmental awards, a timing chosen to ensure focus remains on remembrance and the veterans it honors.
The Duke’s relationship with the British armed forces remains deeply personal. Although he stepped down as a senior working royal in 2020 and was subsequently stripped of his military patronages by Queen Elizabeth II, Harry has said, "(My military) experience changed my life forever and for the better. It changed how I viewed sacrifice and service. I was born into a life of duty, but it was during my decade in the army that I committed to a life of service. It made me who I am today."
As Remembrance Sunday approaches, Prince Harry’s words serve as both a tribute and a challenge. He invites the nation not just to pause, but to act—to remember, to listen, and to ensure that the bonds of service and sacrifice are never forgotten, no matter how far from home one may roam.
