Weeks ago, we learned that Prince Harry made a promise to a now-102-year-old World War II veteran named Ed Marshall. Harry met Mr. Marshall last year, during some Remembrance events in Canada, and Harry ended up agreeing to skydive with him. As it turns out, Mr. Marshall’s doctors absolutely refused to allow a 102-year-old man to jump out of a plane, so Harry then agreed to jump on Marshall’s behalf. Well, once Harry wrapped up his New York events last week, he flew to Toronto, and he skydived in tandem. Because there are rules or laws about who gets to jump solo, and Harry didn’t have the right license or training. So he jumped, he landed, he’s safe. He immediately called Meghan and told her it went well, then he chatted with CTV.
Prince Harry is taking his latest charity challenge to new heights. The Duke of Sussex took part in a daring skydive outside Toronto, making good on a promise to a 102-year-old World War II veteran while raising awareness and support for military charities.
Harry, 42, first crossed paths with veteran Ed Marshall during a visit to the veterans center at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto last November. The pair connected over their shared military backgrounds and commitment to supporting the veteran community — and hatched a plan to jump out of a plane together.
After a medical evaluation determined that the 102-year-old veteran couldn’t safely make the jump, Marshall’s grandson, Bailey, stepped in to skydive alongside Harry in his place. Marshall still joined them for the flight, cheering them on from the plane.
“Ed’s been really excited about this. There’s no version where you can let a 102-year-old veteran down,” Harry said after completing the jump to CTV. “He was devastated that he couldn’t jump, but it was great to have him in the back,” Harry added. “They did put a parachute on him. We did think that he was probably going to jump by himself — glad he didn’t and he’s still here! And he’s going to be 103 in a few months’ time.”
Harry’s first call after the jump was to his wife, Meghan Markle.
“We noticed you called your wife, the Duchess, immediately afterwards,” the interviewer said, before asking how difficult it had been to convince her to let him take part in the skydive as a father of two.
“I didn’t have to convince her, but she was relieved once we were down,” Harry said. “It took quite a while to get up, so I think she was like, ‘Are they down yet? Are they down yet?’ ”
I’m proud of Harry for jumping and I bet he was secretly glad it was a tandem jump. While Harry has a reckless streak, he’s 42 and a father of two young children! Best to not take any chances. In another part of the interview, Harry was asked directly why he moved his family back to the UK and he shrugged off the question quickly, saying yet again that “It’s been great to be back on British soil” and “The kids are happy in school, and it gives me a chance to really focus on Invictus in Birmingham. The Games are in July next year.” Harry and the fakakta British soil. He’s mentioned that “British soil” line like three different times in two weeks. I guess he really was homesick for Trauma Blender Isle.
Screencaps courtesy of CTV’s YouTube videos.
This is a really lovely story. He remains comitted to his work with Veterans. I do want to shout out Invictus and how that organization has connected with organizations serving veterans all over the world. The jump supported a couple of Canadian charities supporting veterans both of which Invuctus has built ties with over the years.
Glad Harry is safe and no doubt Meghan was worrying until he was safely on the ground.
Harry is fearless and it must scare Meghan a lot. Meghan doesn’t do all the physical stuff. I remember her screaming when she was tubing at the Invictus Games in Vancouver while Harry was going down headfirst. He’s always surfing and is up for anything. I imagine that she sits there and waits to hear he’s okay. They respect each other for their similarities and their differences.
Imho, Meghan is a yoga/pilates person not a sporty person, who also enjoys supporting her husband’s more daring adventures.
Hurrah Harry! Congratulations on your jump!
He says British soil not home. It’s the press that say he’s returned home. I think his answer all but says that the move to the UK is temporary but extended. As for the jump, it’s good that he was able to keep his promise to Ed and that he landed safely.
I noticed that too, and think it’s very telling.He is actively protecting Invictus after seeing what happened with Sentebale and Willy’s allies.
By keeping tight control and personally overseeing the operations he ensures Invictus won’t be taken over, misused, or ultimately dismantled.
Amy bee exactly. The reporter guy kept trying to make him say move. Harry never said home or move. Meg & h are very intentional with their words. In h&m statement they never used the term move. They used the phrase spend time twice. Their spokesman told the nyt this will be a short term stay. Meghan and harry said they will spend extended period in the uk this autumn. The extended period will take place over autumn. Extended period means approximately 3 months .
I think everyone was right when they said it was so Harry could keep a tight rein on Invictus in Birmingham. I didn’t before–he was able to do whatever was necessary in the other countries without actually moving there. But listening to his words here & thinking through all the crap that happened to Sentebale, yeah, I think y’all are right. He’s safeguarding Invictus because it’s in Britain.
Well, good for Harry. I don’t see the problem with “British soil.” It’s an idiom, but also the essence of Britain, not the monarchy, not the government, not the press.
And, as @AmyBee says, “not home.” From the first time he used it, I noticed and believe that Harry’s definitely using “British soil” to distinguish between the two, establishing a clear boundary. I don’t have a problem with it.
I love that his week in North America ran circles around all the Left Behinds combined. I laughed when he talked about “UNGA.” Take that, Peggy.
It’s home in the elemental, chthonic sense. Like the stories about the Greek author Kazantzakis keeping a handful of Cretan soil in his pocket.
*runs off to look up chthonic*
I love this take on Harry’s attachment to the land of his birth. Kazantzakis is a very apt comparison. Meghan might have some thoughts about pockets full of soil, however. 😏
I had to look up ‘chthonic’, too! But, y’all, I worked in federal resource management too long because my mind wandered over to–carrying soil around in your pocket? Loose soil? How much? Are you traveling to other places? What non-native invasive species are you possibly transferring? Any–gasp!–artifacts in that soil? And so on. 😁
@C-Shell, I also had to look it up, and that was the second time this week I had to do that with a comment on this site! Celebitches are smart as hell. I really do constantly learn new things on here.
I feel that. I grew up in New Jersey and moved to Texas. In some ways Houston is home, but when I am back in the NYC area? The air, landscape, accents, terrain? It all hits different. Going back is always like re-entering a different atmosphere. It’s hard to explain.
I get that. I’m a US citizen now and this is my home, but when I go back to Greece there’s something about the air, the color of the sky, the shape of everything. It’s familiar on a cellular level.
Very interesting that he said “British soil” and not “it’s good to be home.” He’s drawing a line there. And he does make it sound like this is mostly about Invictus.
The contrast between him and William is just so stark and that’s the issue with him being back in the UK. William would never do something like this – even if he was allowed to by security etc.
Interesting how most of the major British news outlets have ignored this story.
Deliberately, no doubt. Looks like they’re on a mission to focus the public’s minds on anything negative they can bring up about Harry and Meghan, while studiously ignoring positive stories such as this one.
The footage of Harry doing the jump looks fantastic! It could easily have been front page for the likes of The Times or Telegraph. Added to his various speeches in New York last week, it would have been quite a newsworthy package.
But – horror! They can’t possibly show Harry in a good light, can they! Might make some other Royals look lazy and pathetic, LoL
Very good observation, @Eurydice.
By making the distinction between “British soil” vs “home” H is taking control of the narrative away from the brf client- media cabal that want to influence their minions to think of the Suussexc return as H “coming home.”
H is saying clearly that he’s brought his family on an extended VISIT to the land of his birth.
For Harry, the sky is the limit — literally.
That he’s raising funds for a Veterans’ charity with this is just the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.
Meanwhile TOB scooters around Windsor to show off his relatability and down-to-earthness to the *fellow kids*.
NoBs, interesting point. I am so relieved that Harry made that jump and everything went smoothly. Maybe if they stop covering Harry and Meghan, the Wails might be less jealous and vindictive? I hope if the news stays off of them, and the press covers the dinky, low-energy activities of the Wails, the Sussexes can rest easier about their family’s lives being in jeopardy in an enemy country?
Someday in the distant future when future denizens of earth study the effects of mass media and the influence of social media etc…. At the dawn of AI, in our era, which is clearly a cosmic pivot for the human race, this story — of William and Harry — will provide material for all kinds of eager students of the peculiar strain of anthropology that mass consciousness summons into existence. Because this is the single most salient example of organic vs astroturf coverage I have ever seen, in my decades on this planet. You just know if William ever jumped out of a plane with unbridled selfless enthusiasm it would be wall to wall coverage. It’s just… like a fairy tale in which two kids were switched at birth and the good prince was cast out of society. My opinion of the UK as an expat here is dented severely by the way the media treats these two brothers. I mean. Really.
Agreed. I guess a lot of it is feeling like Harry rejected his country and “chose” America and an American wife? They’re very salty about it. And his return doesn’t seem to have diluted their tears. Not yet anyway.
Totally agree. The coverage of Meghan alone has been the subject of theses.
YankeeDoodles, very well observed. But I hope the new British media exclusion of Harry will save his life. And I also hope he gets security. He’s a sitting duck without it, as Pa planned.
In the fairy tales, though, it’s always the youngest child, the non-heir, who goes out into the world and unexpectedly makes their life into something amazing… Harry’s got that narrative on lockdown, complete with the intelligent, kind, beautiful Princess to fall in love with and marry. 💛💛💛☀️🌙✨️
Right. But fairy tales originate in reality in many ways. Younger sons and children really were made to leave the nest and make their own way, while the oldest stayed behind to keep feathering it for the next generation.
I’ve done a lot of research into my family tree lately, now that it’s so much easier to get information. On at least one of the Scottish branches and one of the German ones, there is a younger child of a privileged but large family who left home and sailed to the Americas. The oldest ones got the estate, commission, place in the clergy, larger dowry, etc. There was nothing left for the youngest ones.
The same thing happened even in my grandfather’s generation. He had 7 older siblings including several brothers. His widowed father also re-married in his 50s and had a couple more kids, One of his brothers went to college and became a doctor. One got the farm. My grandfather got a small amount of money and moved to the nearest city to be a railroad clerk. And that was a pretty good, steady job at that time, especially during the Depression. But an education or land would have been better.
@MaisiesMom — yes, absolutely. The fairy tale is based in fact.
Which makes it all the more baffling that so many in the UK can’t get their arms around Harry taking such a traditional path.
Of course it mostly seems to be the press & the Palaces who are really upset about it, and who have been doing their best to get everyone else upset about it with them, for the last ten years.
One would think after all this time they’d just be exhausted with all their performative outrage. I know I am.
It’s really cool that you learned all that about your family! 💛
Harry underwent professional skydiving training in 2012 with the British Army’s famous “Red Devils” display team, earning great acclaim in the process. He performed both tandem jumps and solo freefall jumps.
From what I’ve read, the situation was slightly different. A 102-year-old veteran was supposed to make a tandem jump with Harry, but the doctor did not give the go-ahead, so his grandson jumped with Harry in his place.
Marshall also performed his previous charity jump in 2024 as a tandem jump; at his age, he is physically too frail for a solo jump.
Not sure what would have been done if the jump was in the UK but because the jump was in Canada, Harry wasn’t certified for a solo jump.
That said the idiots trying to diminish a tandem sky dive when Harry flew an Apache under fire in Afghanistan are just idiots.
Yes, I read a piece somewhere that said that Harry hadn’t got the right piece of paper to go solo, but the idea of going solo with a man of 102 conjures up the image of two broken legs on landing. I am glad that the old’un wasn’t allowed to do it.
Omar Sachedina is the lead anchor for the national CTV broadcast so they didn’t just send the local reporter to meet up with Harry for this. It makes it even worse that the British media didn’t cover this.
To keep William from shitting himself even more out of envy, they ignored a 102-year-old British Army veteran.
Bravo, Great Britain… 🤮
Marshall was in the Canadian Air Force. Still ignoring veterans where Charles is commander in chief and head of state is pretty bad.
I have no problem with the term British soil. Really great he was able to do this for great charities. Sunnybrook was 1st established for veterans and had expanded quite a bit into a significant health care centre over the last 50 years. Top rated cardiac care, neurosurgery and trauma centre and quite good cancer center. They even have a top rated maternal- newborn centre ( inherited from Women’s College). The jump site is about 1 hour from the northern border of Toronto. It obviously got good news coverage here in Canada. It was on the most viewed evening news program.
Kasztanka, great point. But the English seem to have no problem with their disrespect for injured and elderly veterans as long as they can stick it to Harry. They are all collateral damage and no one but Harry and other supporters of veterans care. This, of course, includes the king, who is the commander-in-chief of the military and SHOULD show gratitude and
respect for those who gave some or all to protect Great Britain. Horrid, dishonorable and reprehensible.
How is it possible to deduct that he is homesick when he deliberately refuses to say the word home every time he is asked and instead says soil? And he answered why he is on British soil. It is to do with IG like most have guessed.
I don’t think it has to do with home sickness or Invictus. I think it has to do with something he does not feel free to talk about openly at this time. If something doesn’t make sense, it’s usually because we are missing information, and it seems like Harry is deliberately choosing to withhold that information at this time.
It is William and the British that are constantly comparing H & W, but William just can’t keep up with Harry. Maybe because Harry is doing things altruistically, not for show. Harry is serving other people. But he really is on the ball.
Dang, I’m so impressed with Mr. Marshall! Dude was OKd to parachute at 100! That’s really something! I’m glad he was there & able to do as much as he did for this event. It’s important to him, his family, and the people he helps.