Prince Harry made an emotional speech about the importance of opening up and support from siblings during a visit to Ukraine, which comes after a whirlwind visit back to the UK
After spending four days back in the UK, Prince Harry made a surprise visit to Ukraine, where he met with soldiers wounded in the ongoing war with Russia.
His arrival in Kyiv came only days after important government buildings in the city were hit by missiles, and three Russian drones had been shot down over Poland. The Duke of Sussex went to the country as part of his work with the Invictus Foundation, which supports wounded service people in their rehabilitation.
Harry’s trip to the wartorn country came shortly after his first meeting with his father, King Charles, in 19 months, with the pair spending just under an hour together at Clarence House towards the end of the Duke’s visit.
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Harry’s visit to Ukraine coincided with a UN Security Council session that took place about the seeming incursion by Russia into NATO territory, with the UK and other NATO members sending troops, artillery, and air defence systems to secure its Eastern flank.
The Duke admitted to the Guardian that he had to get the permission of the British government to make the trip, and checked with his wife, Meghan Markle, too, before he was officially invited by the Ukrainian government.
While meeting with wounded soldiers, Harry made some emotional comments about the importance of “opening up” to loved ones, including “siblings”.
“You will feel lost at times, like you lack purpose, but however dark those days are, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Harry said as reported by People magazine. “You just need to look for it, because there will always be someone — a mother, father, sibling, friend, or comrade — there to pick you up.”
He added, “Don’t stay silent. Silence will hold you in the dark. Open up to your friends and family, because in doing so, you give them permission to do the same.”
Harry, who served two tours of Afghanistan, has worked tirelessly to help injured service people since leaving active duty in the Armed Forces, and has opened up many times about his personal experiences readjusting to life outside the military, and his own struggles with mental health.
Much of this work, before leaving life as a working royal behind, he embarked upon jointly with his brother, Prince William, and his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, who are also passionate advocates for breaking the stigma around mental health issues.
It is reported that William also hoped to visit Ukraine to show his support for the country since the Russian invasion in 2022, but security officials scuppered his plans, leaving the future King allegedly “frustrated” that his brother was able to go.
Harry first went to Ukraine back in April, when he spent time at the Superhuman Trauma Centre that supports amputees, when reports emerged that William expressed his disappointment to palace officials that his own trip had been blocked.
While Harry and William were once inseparable, things have been frosty to say the least between the brothers for some time.
Despite Harry’s meet-up with King Charles, no such reunion took place with his older brother, and relations have shown little sign of improving so far.
