- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle went to San Diego
- They were there to celebrate Veteran's Day
- THESE were the highlights of the trip
Prince Harry, who is a former British Army officer, and his wife Meghan Markle have been making waves in the United States veteran community since their move in 2020. This Veterans Day, the royal couple paid a visit to Camp Pendleton in San Diego, meeting with active duty servicemembers, veterans, and Gold Star Families.
A royal visit
At Camp Pendleton, the couple highlighted the base's unique mentorship service, Operation Bigs. This program connects young people who understand the trials of having a deployed parent.
Despite being thousands of miles away, Harry hasn't forgotten his British roots. As the UK celebrated Remembrance Day, Harry wore a poppy on his lapel, a traditional symbol of remembrance. But that's not all! The Duke of Sussex announced his new role as a global ambassador for UK-based charity, Scotty's Little Soldiers.
This charity supports children of deceased service members, a cause close to Harry's heart. In a heartfelt letter, Harry emphasized the importance of Scotty's mission. "Spending time with people who understand what you may be feeling and who can rally around you in moments of need is something to cherish," he wrote.
Nikki Scott, the charity’s founder, praised Harry's commitment to the cause. "They know he truly understands them and the challenges they face as bereaved military children," she said. Harry's involvement with Scotty’s dates back to 2017. When he tied the knot with Meghan in 2018, the couple chose the charity as one of the few to receive donations instead of wedding gifts."
Ready to help
Charity has always been at the forefront of Harry's public works. And the couple are no strangers to honoring Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, a tradition they've upheld since their royal days. This year, they took their tribute a step further, visiting Operation Bigs, which as mentioned, is a unique mentoring program for children of military families, including those of active duty, veteran, and Gold Star families.
Founded in 2004, Operation Bigs has since connected over 3,000 children of Navy and Marine Corps members to mentors who understand their unique challenges and experiences. The program has grown to over 30 affiliates nationwide, providing support and guidance to military families across the country.
The royal support means a lot.
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Spreading the word
In their 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry shared his military experiences, stating that his time in the Army "gave me the lived experience that other members of my family wouldn't have had."
His time in Afghanistan, flying Apache helicopters, was a period of rapid growth for him.
In the same episode, the couple visited McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey in honor of Veterans Day 2021. Meghan, watching her husband on the base, remarked, "you see how much joy it brings him to be back on a base, and he immediately goes back into military banter."
Serving service members is a passion for them, and this is a side of the couple people certainly want to see more of.
