Prince Harry recently fulfilled a year-old bet by completing a charity skydive, a promise made to 102-year-old WWII veteran Ed Marshall. The Duke of Sussex met Marshall, a former paratrooper, during a visit to the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Canada. Inspired by photographs of Marshall completing a charity jump at age 100, the two agreed to jump together.
Although Marshall was medically unable to participate in the skydive himself, his grandson, Bailey Fullan, stepped in to take his place. Marshall cheered on the participants from inside the skydive plane. The jump, which occurred on September 25, was documented in a video released by The Sunnybrook Foundation.
Prince Harry, who has a decade of service in the British Army including tours in Afghanistan, joined Bailey Fullan, Canadian Armed Forces Veteran Jeremy Blair, and Sunnybrook’s President and CEO, Dr. Andy Smith, in the air. Video footage captured the group jumping from the plane and embracing after landing.
"A huge, huge thanks to Sunnybrook for putting this whole event on, and the biggest thanks goes to Ed and his entire family for making this possible," Prince Harry stated after the jump. He humorously added, "I will be more cautious next time not to pay too much attention to a photograph that leads you to making a deal or a bet with a 102-year-old! Cheers Sunnybrook!"
Bailey Fullan described the experience as "amazing" and a "fantastic way to support our veterans." The Sunnybrook Foundation noted that the event turned a conversation between two veterans into a "promise kept." The skydive served as a meaningful contribution to the Sunnybrook Foundation and the True Patriot Love Foundation, organizations dedicated to supporting Canada's military and veteran communities.