Prince Harry has told hundreds of bereaved military children “it’s OK to feel however you feel at Christmas” as he joined a virtual festive party organised by a charity he supports.
Harry got into the Christmas spirit by wearing a Santa hat as he answered questions at the party hosted by Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
The Duke of Sussex told 280 children who have lost a parent they shouldn’t feel bad if they find it hard to join in the seasonal spirit.
Some people, he said, “will be celebrating and happy, other people feel reflective, some people will be sad, and maybe you’ll experience every single one of these emotions and that’s absolutely fine.
“Remember, you’ve got each other, you’ve got Scotty’s and you’ve got the people that love you.”
The duke is a global ambassador to the charity, which helps children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
It says about 2,100 children cope with such a loss every year.
Scotty’s member Bethan, 23, whose father David Coomber died in 2011 when she was nine, joined Harry in answering the children’s questions and said she “felt a real connection” with the prince.
The party, she said, “was upbeat and in no way sombre, but Prince Harry reminded us that he understands what we have all been through and that it’s OK to feel a mixture of emotions”.
“He also made it clear to us that he is part of the Scotty’s community and proud to support us, which means a lot.”
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Nikki Scott, who founded Scotty’s in 2010 after the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan, said: “Christmas can be a difficult time for bereaved children and young people, but this event reminded our members that they are part of a community that cares and understands.”
She added: “We also find that after events, families are more likely to get in touch and ask for help if they are struggling.
“We offer a range of support, including 1:1 bereavement support sessions, which can make a huge difference to a family and could help prevent reaching crisis point.”
Scotty’s said it had supported more than 730 bereaved military children and young people in 2024.
Ms Scott added: “Prince Harry has been a massive supporter of Scotty’s for a number of years and having him at our virtual Christmas party made it really special and memorable for our members.”
