Prince Harry Supports Military Children Who Lost a Parent: He ‘Gets It,’ Says Charity Founder (Exclusive)

Prince Harry has been praised for supporting young people who have lost a parent in the armed forces.

Ahead of a weekend when Britain remembers its dead and injured, army veteran the Duke of Sussex, 39, has been named global ambassador for a charity which helps provide emotional support to young people.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers was founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott, whose husband Corp. Lee Scott died while on tour in Afghanistan in 2009.

Nikki Scott will lead a march of 48 proud young people in London on Sunday as the royal family, veterans, civil servants and politicians gather to pay their respects to the fallen.

Prince Harry with Meghan Markle in Germany in September.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry did their ‘homework’ before visiting new facility for Navy Seals (Exclusive)

Prince Harry, whose mother Princess Diana died when he was 12, has supported them since 2017 after first meeting them at an event at Buckingham Palace. Since then, he has written to bereaved families or participated in video calls.

“It’s such a positive thing for us. The fact that [Harry] was bereaved as a child and served in the military, the young people we support really resonate with him,” says Scott.

“He really gets it and you can feel the passion when he talks to us and writes to us. He’s so willing to help and he’s so engaged,” she adds.

Nikki Scott and Lee Scott with their children.

Courtesy of Scotty’s Little Soldiers

At the time of Lee’s death, he and Nikki had two young children: Kaia, 5, and Brooke, 7 months. Deep grief over the loss of her father inspired Nikki to found a charity to support bereaved children.

This week, when Prince Harry was announced as the charity’s global ambassador, he wrote to members. “During what may be a particularly difficult time for you and your family, please know that I am thinking of you and I hope that your Memorial Weekend is filled with comfort, support and mutual understanding with your fellow Scotty members,” Harry said.

“Grief is nothing to be ashamed of; it’s normal to feel sad about a loss. But don’t forget that you also deserve to feel happy – your parent would want that, believe me,” he said.

Nikki Scott tells PEOPLE how the Duke of Sussex’s involvement helps: “Knowing that someone like Prince Harry is behind us and supporting us makes you feel like people are listening — and he’s going to help more people listen and get our messages across.”

Nikki Scott — founder of Scotty’s Little Soldiers.

Courtesy of Scotty’s Little soldiers

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wear poppy pins on surprise trip to help Navy Seals

Scotty’s Little Soldiers currently supports more than 650 members and services offered include access to bereavement support for children, guidance for parents and carers, personal education, learning support such as scholarships and activities such as holiday retreats and group events.

On Sunday, 48 children aged 8 to 22 will wear their distinctive yellow and black scarves and march to the war memorial, or Cenotaph, in central London in a section of the parade reserved for war widows.

“It’s such an emotional time, and grieving families are really sensitive this time of year,” Scott tells PEOPLE. “For us to come together as a community and walk past the Cenotaph, you have this overwhelming sense of pride. We are all here to remember our loved ones. The veterans and the public are just amazing with the kids and it gives them a real boost at a difficult time of year.”

Isabelle Bovington and her older sister Elizabeth.

Courtesy of Scotty’s Little Soldiers

The youngest of those marching on Sunday is Isabelle Bovington, 8, who was almost a year old when her father, Navy Corpsman Thomas Bovington, died suddenly of a genetic heart condition. Scotty’s help keep Isabelle and her sister, 9-year-old Elizabeth, smiling.

“When I think of Scotty, I feel excited and happy. Especially when I think of Scotty’s Christmas parties,” says Isabelle. “I was very little at my first Scotty’s Christmas party so I don’t remember much, but my mom says I made friends with the polar bear statue and kept putting snow on its head.”

She adds: “Remembrance is very important so that we can remember people from the military like dad.”

While she’s marching this year, she spent last year with her grandparents: “I looked for my mom and Elizabeth when they were in the parade with Scotty, but they were too far away. It was like, ‘Where’s Wally?’ Elizabeth told me about it and it sounds really exciting.”

“I’ll be thinking about Dad and wearing my big black and yellow scarf so people know I’m part of Scotty,” she says.

I can’t get enough PEOPLERoyals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to receive the latest news on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Another young man, Austen Hargreaves, 13, was just 7 years old when his father, Sgt. Christopher Hargreaves, died by suicide.

He says that “the two-minute silence of the service is always very emotional. I usually cry. This is a moment to really think about everything, think about everyone who put their lives on the line for us and think about everyone we’ve lost.”

Austen adds in a statement: “We like to remember him through stories and talk to our mom as he was. I know he was amazing and always so warm and welcoming to everyone he met. He loved spending time with us whenever he was home and is very diligent whenever he wasn’t. My favorite thing in the world is every time people say I remind them of my dad.”

Austen Hargreaves (left) with her brother Cooper.

Courtesy of Scotty’s Little Soldiers

Why Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and members of the royal family wear poppies

The opportunity also “helps me feel a military connection that I wouldn’t otherwise have and inspires me to learn more about that side of my father’s life. I remember my dad as my dad, not the man he was in the military, but it’s something I’m really interested in and I think it’s important to understand what that part of his life was like. The memory of being with Scotty is always great and I love everyone there. Whatever we’re doing – whether it’s something serious or fun – it’s just amazing to be surrounded by people who you know love and understand you.”

Prince Harry’s involvement in Scotty’s Little Soldiers comes during a week when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, attended several events honoring veterans. After spending Wednesday morning with veterans and active-duty military personnel and their loved ones at Camp Pendleton, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the grand opening of the Navy SEAL Foundation’s West Coast Warrior Fitness program in San Diego, a few hours’ drive south from their Montecito home. in California.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education