The Duchess of Sussex has publicly backed Prince Harry after he criticised US President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about NATO forces in Afghanistan. Mr Trump claimed in a Fox News interview that NATO troops "stayed a little off the front lines" and that the US had "never needed" its allies, despite NATO invoking Article 5 after the 9/11 attacks.
Prince Harry, who served two frontline tours in Afghanistan, responded on Friday evening, stating that the sacrifices of British soldiers "deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect". The duke said he served in Afghanistan, made lifelong friends, and lost friends there, adding that "children were left without a parent" and families "carry the cost".
In an apparent gesture of solidarity, Meghan posted a series of images to her Instagram stories highlighting Harry's military service and his role as patron of the Invictus Games. One photo showed the duke in a military aircraft, while others featured veterans at the games.
Prince Harry served for a decade in the British Army, qualifying as an Apache aircraft commander. He fought the Taliban in Helmand Province in 2007 and returned for a second tour in 2012. His military career began at Sandhurst in 2005 and he rose to the rank of captain before leaving in 2015.
Mr Trump's remarks have drawn widespread condemnation in the UK. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called them "frankly appalling" and suggested the US president should apologise.
