Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
For Prince Harry, letting down the old veteran was not an option.
When Prince Harry makes headlines, it often concerns the icy relations between him and the rest of the British Royal Family.
But this time, it’s a completely different and, quite literally, dizzying descent that has put the 42-year-old Duke in the media spotlight.
During a quick visit to Canada, he chose to jump from a plane in a wild skydive. The daring stunt, however, was not for the thrill of it, but rather to keep a heartfelt promise to a man who has experienced more than most.
According to People, the Prince met 102-year-old World War II veteran Ed Marshall last autumn at a hospital in Toronto. The two men quickly found common ground in their military past and, in a playful moment, agreed to go skydiving together.
But when doctors finally had to put their foot down and forbid the aging war hero from jumping, the Duke refused to let the agreement fall through.
“Ed’s been really excited about this. There’s no version where you can let a 102-year-old veteran down,” says Prince Harry.
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Took the jump with Harry
Instead of the 102-year-old veteran, it was his grandson, Bailey, who had the honor of soaring through the air side by side with the British royal. Ed Marshall, however, followed in the plane and witnessed the jump up close.
That a busy global figure who had just flown in from important meetings in New York would risk his life to honor an elderly veteran evoked deep admiration from the family.
“But just as my grandfather said, I mean, he’s just a normal guy. And that’s really the feeling that we get,” Bailey said, visibly moved.
Meghan on the phone
As soon as Harry had solid ground under his feet again, there was one particular person at the top of his contact list.
The phone was immediately pulled out to call Duchess Meghan, who was waiting anxiously at home while her husband descended from the sky.
“I didn’t have to convince her, but she was relieved once we were down,” Prince Harry said with a smile.
In addition to drawing attention to military charities, the trip also gave the Prince an opportunity to comment on the family’s current situation.
After he returned to the UK for a period to be closer to the Royal Family, it seems that both he and the children are thriving in the new, yet familiar, surroundings.
