Prince Philip and Prince Harry had a sweet bond (Image: Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Prince Harry said his grandfather gave him a blunt message before the prince went to Afghanistan.
Prince Philip was often seen in public being very matter-of-fact, and it is clear that he was also like that behind closed doors. Known for being devoted to the late Queen and the rest of his family, the former Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away at the age of 99 in 2021, cared deeply for his loved ones, and they cared deeply for him.
Pricne Philip was also believed to be very close with his grandson Prince Harry. Having served in the Royal Navy during World War II, Philip was one of the people who knew the risks Harry would face when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007, and gave him a blunt six-word message when waving him goodbye.
In the documentary Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, Harry said: “Going off to Afghanistan, he (Philip) was very matter of fact and just said: ‘Make sure you come back alive.’”
When Harry returned to the UK, Philip – who joined the Royal Navy in 1939 – is believed to have been there for his grandson with a listening ear if he wanted to talk about his experiences.
Harry said: “Then when I came back, there wasn’t a deep level of discussion, more a case of: ‘Well you made it. How was it?’
“That’s how he was. He was very much a listener, he sort of set the scene for you to be able to share as much as you wanted to share but he would never probe.”
Although Harry quit royal life in 2020 with his wife Meghan Markle, it is believed that he still remained close with his grandfather.
