The Duchess of Edinburgh has taken on a new role as patron of the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST), a charity that uses snow sports to support the recovery of wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans. The announcement, made on Monday, links her work to that of her nephew, Prince Harry, who founded the Invictus Games in 2014.
Hands-on approach on the slopes
To mark her patronage, the Duchess visited The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead on Monday, where she skied alongside AFPST participants and learned more about the charity's work. The charity believes that adaptive sports can give individuals a new sense of purpose, and the Duchess's immediate participation highlights her hands-on approach.
Parallels with the Invictus Games
The AFPST's mission closely mirrors that of Prince Harry's Invictus Games, which he established in 2014 to help injured ex-servicemen and women through sport. The Invictus Games aims to provide opportunities for people through sports, with competitions designed to help ex-servicemen and women overcome the impact of trauma.
Prince Harry, an ex-veteran, has often spoken about his passion for this cause. In a 2018 speech celebrating Invictus Games competitors, he highlighted the importance of the competition for both physical and mental recovery. He said: "I hope the ethos of these Games has also shown you that we all have mental health, just as much as we all have physical health. I hope you have seen that our mental fitness is even more important than our physical fitness, because without it, we cannot survive, let alone thrive."
Harry's words on mental health
He continued: "So for all the civvies, or civilians out there, look at what these men and women have achieved and know that one day, though you may not be injured in combat, physical or emotional injuries can happen to any one of us, on any given day."
Harry also said: "The secret of these Invictus Games is not really about the amazing medical science that has saved the lives of our competitors and helped many of them to walk, swim, or move again. The secret to the success of these Games has been accepting that mental health is the real key to recovery. Our competitors have helped turn the issue of mental health from a sad story to an inspiring one. They want to live, rather than just be alive. When you accept a challenge that is real, you can have hope. When you understand your vulnerability, you can become strong. When you are brave enough to ask for help, you can be lifted up. You can start living, doing, feeling - not simply surviving. And when you share your story, you can change the world. And I can't think of a better way to continue serving your country."
The Duchess's new patronage is likely to delight royal fans, as well as Prince Harry, given the shared focus on supporting veterans through sport.
