Prince Harry Says Leaving Army Cost Him 'Purpose and Identity'

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, revealed that he felt he lost a significant part of his 'purpose and identity' upon leaving the British Army and hanging up his uniform.

Speaking via videolink to NATO's military committee in Brussels as the founder of the Invictus Games, Harry, a former soldier who served for a decade before ending his military career in 2015, stated that he was fortunate to have found 'another way to serve'. He addressed the committee on October 1, 2026.

He stressed the importance of NATO, drawing parallels with the Invictus Games' mission. "At its heart, Nato is an alliance of nations," he said. "But those nations are defended by people. People who volunteer to serve. People who train together, deploy together, fight together and, in many cases, recover together. And families who serve alongside them in ways that are rarely acknowledged. And, ultimately, people who come home."

Harry, who stepped down as a working royal in 2020, launched the Invictus Games in 2014 to support wounded, injured, and sick current and former service personnel. He warned the military leaders about the critical need to focus on the well-being of service members after they leave the forces, especially those who return wounded, injured, or sick.

"I know something about that transition," he stated. "When I hung up my uniform, I felt as though I had lost not simply a profession, but part of my purpose and identity."

He emphasized that while significant resources are allocated to preparing individuals for service, equal attention must be given to their post-military lives. "Invictus is not a sporting event. Sport is one of our tools. Our mission is much bigger. We rebuild purpose. We rebuild confidence. We strengthen families and communities. We connect veterans back into society," Harry explained.

He added that the strength of an alliance like NATO should also be measured by the people and societies its forces return home to. Harry is set to stage the Invictus Games tournament in Birmingham the following year.

Prince Harry, who moved back to the UK in August, was previously denied the opportunity to wear military uniform at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022 due to his status as a non-working royal. Following the Sussexes' decision to step back from royal duties and their permanent move to the United States, the late Queen had removed Harry's honorary military titles and royal patronages in 2021.