“Being a dad certainly adds another emotional layer to it,” the Duke of Sussex tells PEOPLE in this week’s exclusive cover story. “When I was in the Army, I promised myself I would be out before having a wife and kids, because I couldn’t imagine the heartache of being apart for so long during deployment, the risk of possibly getting injured and the reality that my family’s lives could be changed forever if that happened.”
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“Every member of the Invictus community has experienced varying degrees of these things. I have tremendous respect for what they and their families sacrifice in the name of service,” he adds. “For the dads and mums who have served, and have been wounded or injured or fallen ill, there’s nothing that compares to seeing them rediscover their ability to do whatever they put their minds to. There’s nothing like seeing their kids watch proudly from the stands. It’s a true inspiration and a deeply touching experience.”
“Being a father, there’s an immediate connection that we share,” Smith tells PEOPLE.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
Prince Harry’s role as a fellow combat veteran — he served in the British Army for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan — also plays a big part in relating to the athletes competing in the adaptive sports competition.
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“I showed him how some were missing legs and explained that some had invisible injuries, too,” he continued. “Not because he asked, but because I wanted to tell him. Kids understand so much, and to see it through his eyes was amazing because it’s so unfiltered and honest.”
source: people.com
