The Duke of Sussex has honoured Iraq War veterans, marking 15 years since British forces concluded their involvement in the conflict. In a statement, he praised their 'courage, duty and sacrifice' as the nation remembered the 179 British personnel killed and over 6,000 injured during Operation Telic.
Speaking on the anniversary, Harry said: 'Fifteen years on from the end of the Iraq War, we remember with profound gratitude the brave men and women who served their country with courage, duty and sacrifice. Today, we honour not only those who paid the ultimate price, but also the veterans and families who continue to carry the visible and invisible wounds of war. Their strength, resilience and service must never be forgotten.'
Around 1,500 members of the armed forces community gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire for a ceremony. The event, attended by Defence Secretary John Healey and presented by former ITV News war correspondent Bill Neely, featured wreath-laying, readings, music, a service of remembrance and a Chinook flypast.
The Duke himself served two operational tours in Afghanistan, first as a Forward Air Controller and later as an Apache helicopter pilot. He left the Army in March 2015 after ten years of service.
