Veteran reveals what it was like fighting alongside Prince Harry in Afghanistan

An army veteran who served in Afghanistan with Prince Harry has insisted the Duke of Sussex was never ‘coddled’ in the army.

Steve Sampher, who was shot in the head and lost his leg, appeared on Good Morning Britain when he explained he would reunite with the veteran royal at the Invictus Games next month.

The duke served in the army for a total of ten years, rising to the rank of captain and undertaking two tours of Afghanistan.

During the second tour, he spent four months as an Apache helicopter pilot – from September 2012 to January 2013.

He praised the duke’s work, saying he was never treated differently from other soldiers, adding, “You ran into Harry in the cooking room and had a chat with him.”

In the meantime, he explained, “Having the Apache callsigns above us actually deterred the insurgency, the Taliban, whoever it was we were up against at the time, which gave us breathing space to do our job better.”

Steve, who plays wheelchair rugby for Hull FC, also said it will be ‘good to see him again’ at the Invictus Games, which he will be taking part in next month.

The athlete, who has been training for the past nine months, feels “very good” about the challenge ahead and will head to Düsseldorf next Wednesday with the others.

He shared that he found a lot of motivation to challenge his physical body because of the ‘military ethos’ ingrained in veterans.

“We joined the military to serve, to give ourselves a sense of purpose… belonging,” he told the program.

“If you get hurt, it comes back to that.”

It comes after a recent confirmation that Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, 42, will both attend the closing ceremony of this year’s Invictus Games for injured servicemen in Germany – amid claims she won’t be in Britain with Harry to the eve of the anniversary of the Queen’s death.

Close friend and confidant of the Sussexes Omid Scobie posted the news on social media yesterday, adding that while Harry will be attending the entire games, Meghan will “join him later” and stay for the closing ceremony, before returning to the US .

Harry (pictured right in Afghanistan in 2012) set up the Games himself and organized the first in 2014. This year was the sixth event following previous editions in London, Sydney and Toronto

Steve (pictured), who plays wheelchair rugby for Hull FC, also said it will be ‘good to see him again’ at the Invictus Games, which he will be taking part in next month.

Mr Scobie said: ‘A spokesperson confirms that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are ‘excited to attend the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf next month’.

Harry will be there from the start and Meghan will join him later in the competition. They’ll both be at the closing ceremony.’

This week it became clear that Prince Harry is returning to Britain on the eve of the death anniversary of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Meghan is expected to miss the opening ceremony of the sporting event for wounded servicemen and veterans that will be held in Düsseldorf for eight days from September 9.

But she will fly to Europe and join husband Harry shortly after the event begins, which will see participants from all over the world.

The Games will take place from September 9 to 16 under the motto ‘A Home for Respect’, and will see 550 athletes compete in 10 sports from 21 different countries. Harry pictured at the opening of the Royal British Legion Wootton Bassett Field of Remembrance in 2010

The Duke of Sussex (pictured in Afghanistan in 2012) will fly from California to London but will not be accompanied by Meghan, who will fly directly to Germany for the Invictus Games

Before the Invictus Games kick off, Harry travels to Britain to attend a charity awards ceremony on the eve of the first anniversary of the late Queen’s death. Harry and Meghan pictured in 2017

Opening of the Royal British Legion Wootton Bassett Field of Remembrance, Lydiard Park, Wiltshire, UK – 09 November 2010 Harry himself set up the Games, hosting the first in 2014, with the event being the sixth this year following previous editions in London, Sydney and Toronto.

It has also been an event of significance for him over the years, with the 2017 Games marking his first public appearance with Meghan.

The Games will take place from September 9 to 16 under the motto ‘A Home for Respect’, and will see 550 athletes compete in 10 sports from 21 different countries.

Before the Invictus Games kick off, Harry travels to Britain to attend a charity awards ceremony on the eve of the first anniversary of the late Queen’s death.

Harry will be celebrating the achievements and resilience of seriously ill young people and their families, supported by the WellChild charity, at the event to be held in London on September 7.

The Duke of Sussex is flying from California to London but will not be accompanied by Meghan, who is flying directly to Germany for the Invictus Games.

And he is not expected to see any of his family after an intense deterioration in relations following the publication of his book Spare and the couple’s Netflix docuseries.

No public or private family gatherings are planned for the birthday of the Queen who died in Balmoral last year at the age of 96 during her traditional summer residence at the castle.