Prince Harry is set to participate in a charity skydiving event later this month, marking a significant public appearance shortly after his return to the United Kingdom. The Duke of Sussex will undertake the daring stunt to raise funds for two Canadian military charities: Sunnybrook and True Patriot Love.
The decision to commit to the skydive was inspired by Harry's meeting with 102-year-old World War II veteran Ed Marshall at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto last November. According to the event organizers, Harry and Marshall developed a bond over their shared military experiences and commitment to community service. Marshall shared his own experience of skydiving to celebrate his 100th birthday, which in turn motivated Prince Harry to participate.
While Marshall will not be present for the event, his grandson is expected to attend in his honor. The charities involved have prior connections to Prince Harry, having assisted in bringing his Invictus Games initiative to Canada. Prince Harry served in the British Army for a decade, including two tours in Afghanistan, as a Forward Air Controller and an Apache helicopter pilot.
This charity event will be among Prince Harry's first public engagements since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, relocated to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The family arrived on August 26, reportedly to be closer to King Charles III during his cancer treatment. The family is expected to remain in the UK for an extended period, and their children have been enrolled in a local preparatory school.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle departed from their California home for this extended stay. The couple, who stepped down from their roles as senior royals in 2020, have not publicly commented on the move or Harry's upcoming skydiving engagement.
