Prince Harry ‘will continue to serve the community for the rest of his life’ says close friend

‘Harry will continue to serve because he is a veteran,’ said JJ Chalmers

(AFP via Getty Images)

Being a military veteran means Prince Harry will continue to serve the country for the rest of his life, says a close friend of the Prince of Wales.

TV presenter and former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers said that, because of the duke’s decade in the military, he will always continue caring for "the wider community".

Asked about Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview, Chalmers told The Sun newspaper: “Harry has made it very clear, not just throughout that interview but before it, that he wants to continue to serve the greater community – especially the ones he cares dearly about, including the armed forces community.

“Harry will continue to serve because he is a veteran and that is what he is doing now, albeit from a different place. All of us are in different places now.

“It is veterans looking after the wider community. And we have shared that goal since we met.”

He continued: “Harry to me is a remarkable veteran. And to me it is mainly because he is the world’s most famous veteran, but he would tell you the things he is doing are the same things that Dave Henson is doing, or David Wiseman, or JJ Chalmers."

JJ Chalmers (Getty Images)

In February, a statement from Buckingham Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan would not return as working members of the royal family, and that their stepping back would mean losing their honorary military appointments and Royal patronages.

The palace said in a statement: "Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service."

That prompted a riposte from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who said "we can all live a life of service".

“As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK. and around the world, and have offered their continued support to organizations they have represented, regardless of official role,” their statement read.

“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”