Prince Harry claims the media ‘did not cover’ British soldiers being wounded in Afghanistan as he discusses Press coverage of his deployment in Netflix documentary

Prince Harry has claimed the media “didn’t report” British soldiers being injured in Afghanistan as he discussed press coverage of his deployment in a new Netflix documentary.

In Heart Of Invictus, the 38-year-old Duke of Sussex described being evacuated home from the war zone after US website Drudge Report reported a news glitch about his deployment.

In episode one of the new series, released today, he described how a curtain on the plane he was on blew open to reveal three young wounded soldiers with their “bodies in pieces.”

He said, “I saw what only men had spoken of. That was the real trigger to see the true cost of war. Not just those individuals, but their families and how their lives would change forever.

“When I got off the plane I was angry about what happened to these guys, I was angry that the media didn’t report it. But at that moment it was not yet clear to me what had to be done.’

Harry said this moment sparked the creation of the Invictus Games, the main subject of the documentary.

Harry also complains about the media messing up his deployment to Afghanistan, saying, “The whole reason I was allowed to go to Afghanistan in the first place was because it was kept secret.

“While I was there for 10 weeks no one knew except the British press who said ‘We will keep quiet as long as we get access’.

‘When I was suddenly on my way home, I got angry. But it was important for everyone around me – their safety – to remove me.”

Harry’s cover was ruined by the Drudge Report in 2009 with a “world exclusive” on “Harry the Hero.”

In today’s documentary, the Duke also saw another clear swipe at his family, as he claimed he had no support network after returning from Afghanistan and his trauma was “never discussed.”

Harry in a Spartan armored vehicle on February 18, 2008 in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan

The documentary included footage of Harry while on active duty in Afghanistan in 2007/8

The Duke of Sussex also said he was unaware of the trauma he still had when his mother, Princess Diana, died in Paris in August 1997 when he was just 12 years old.

He said that when he returned from the war in 2009, “the biggest struggle for me was that no one around me could really help,” adding: “I didn’t have that support structure, that network or that expert advice to identify what was really going on. continue with me.’

Harry also told the show, “Unfortunately, like most of us, the first time you consider therapy is when you’re lying on the floor in a fetal position, probably wishing you’d dealt with this stuff before.” And that’s what I really want to change.’

When the latest project in the Sussexes’ £80 million deal with Netflix was released this morning, Harry also described himself as a father of two, dog owner and husband.

At first, the Duke of Sussex was asked by an interviewer, “What’s your name?” and he replied, “My name is Harry.” The interviewer then said, “What are you doing, Harry?”

Harry said, ‘What should I do? On a certain day? I am a father of two children under the age of three, have a few dogs, husband, I am a founder and patron of Invictus Games Foundation. There are many hats you wear, but I believe it’s all about Invictus today.”

Also in the documentary, Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were seen together in a private moment before a speech at the Salute to Freedom Gala in New York City in November 2021, and the Duke was heard confiding in the Duchess about his nerves.

Harry talked about the moment he was flown home in an earlier interview

Harry describes how, while being evacuated back to Britain, a curtain in the plane he was on blew open to reveal three young wounded soldiers.

Harry was heard to say, “We haven’t done this in a while.” Meghan added, “I know.” Harry said, “My heart is like digidigadigadiga” and walks around nervously backstage.

All five episodes of the docuseries were made available at 8am UK time (midnight California time), following previous speculation that Netflix had canceled the show.

The show was released ahead of next month’s Invictus Games, which will take place in Dusseldorf over eight days from September 9 and will be attended by Harry and Meghan.

Harry is the executive producer and the show is part of the Sussexes’ deal with Netflix – with the main output so far being last year’s controversial Harry & Meghan documentary, which included a series of swipes at members of the royal family. contained.

In last December’s six-part series, the couple accused Kensington Palace of lying to protect Prince William.

The Invictus documentary is under pressure to become a viewing success after the couple’s other lucrative media deal with Spotify ended in June after one season of Meghan’s podcast Archetypes. Netflix unveiled the first trailer for the series on August 16.

It comes after Netflix paid £3 million for the movie rights to Carley Fortune’s romance novel Meet Me At The Lake, which Harry and Meghan will produce for the service.