Prince Harry will take part in a skydive later this month to raise money for military charities, fulfilling a promise he made to a 102-year-old veteran. The engagement will be his first since moving back to the UK with his family.
The Duke of Sussex met World War II veteran Ed Marshall during a visit to Sunnybrook Hospital's veterans centre in Toronto last November. During their meeting, Mr Marshall recalled completing a skydive to celebrate his 100th birthday.
Promise made to veteran
The Sunnybrook Foundation announced the upcoming skydive on its fundraiser page, recalling the meeting between Mr Marshall and the Duke. The foundation said: “They quickly bonded over their shared experience of military service and the way they have continued to serve their communities. The idea stuck, and together, they devised a plan for another jump.”
Mr Marshall will not join Harry on the dive, but will be represented by his grandson, Bailey. Speaking about his grandson's readiness, Mr Marshall said: "My grandson, he's never jumped before, but he has the right attitude about this, and I hope he enjoys it."
Speaking to CTV News, the veteran shared that he found Prince Harry to be “a nice guy, so I told him I was planning on jumping again and he said, 'well I'll join you,' so I took him up on that.” The exact location and timing of the jump have yet to be announced, though it is set to take place later in September.
Charities to benefit
The jump will raise money for both Sunnybrook and True Patriot Love Foundation (TPLF), both of which support Canada's military veterans. Harry has worked with TPLF before, as the organisation helped him bring the Invictus Games to Canada in 2017 and 2025.
Following his visit to Sunnybrook Hospital's veterans centre last year, which coincided with Remembrance Day, Harry penned an essay expressing his pride at fighting for his country. He warned how easy it is for veterans to be forgotten "once the uniform comes off".
He called on people to remember "not only the fallen, but the living" who carry the "weight of war" and urged them to knock on veterans' doors and "join them for a cuppa... or a pint" to hear their stories and "remind them their service still matters".
First engagement since return
Harry served for 10 years in the British Army, completing two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a Forward Air Controller and Apache helicopter pilot, and has dedicated much of his life to supporting injured veterans.
The skydive is likely to be Harry's first public engagement since he and his wife Meghan Markle, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, moved back to the UK for an 'extended stay'. The Sussex family touched down at Birmingham Airport in late August, and while it is not known where they are living, it is believed they have settled somewhere in the Cotswolds. Archie and Lilibet have been enrolled in UK schools, and will likely be starting the school year next week.
