PRINCE Harry’s friend Martyn Compton fears his former Army comrade will live to regret his decision to halt his royal duties.
Martyn — badly burned in Afghanistan in 2006 and a pal of Harry’s for 15 years — says losing his honorary military titles as a result is bound to hurt the prince.
But here the ex-Household Cavalry Lance Corporal tells HOAR on Sunday’s Executive Features Editor Ben Griffiths that no royal can be seen to cash in.
‘I hope it’s not a decision he comes to bitterly regret’
says Martyn Compton
Prince Harry’s friend and someone who has served alongside him, I’m shocked an amazed it’s all come to this.
I genuinely hope the interview with Oprah Winfrey and all that goes with it is worth it to him as this is a very high price to pay.
I don’t know what he’s getting out of it, perhaps it’s getting something off his chest. But with high profile deals, including Netflix, what I do know is that no Royal should ever be seen to be cashing in.
No one knows his motives apart from Prince Harry in agreeing to do this interview. But I really hope he has given himself the time to think it all through.
For someone who has done so much for veterans and soldiers, I hope it’s not a decision he comes to bitterly regret.
I know how much being in the military means to Prince Harry as he did his time, he earned his right to be an officer, and he earned the respect of others through doing all that he did — not just because of who he was. But my own view is that, you can’t have it both ways.
I got to know him when serving for The Household Cavalry in 2006 and I regard both him and Prince William as friends.
Prince Harry was massively supportive of those he served with. He was one of the lads, he spoke to people normally, not like you’d expect a member of the Royal family to be.
He was respected and hugely popular. To put it simply, he was a good bloke.
He didn’t have Royal airs and graces, he was one of us. And he served heroically on the frontline — something no one can ever take from him.
Even away from duty and the public eye, Harry deeply cared for both veterans and those who are serving.
After I was terribly injured, both he and William stayed in touch with me and visited and that really sticks with me. I also know they kept in touch and had updates through the regiment.
The details of those meetings are hazy. I’d suffered 75 per cent burns in an explosion and I was shot twice. I nearly died four times.
‘IMMENSELY PROUD’
But it meant a great deal that they came to visit me several times and kept in contact.
It gave me an incredible boost at the darkest time of my life. I will always be grateful for that. And that is why this latest turn of events is so deeply shocking.
Even at Prince William’s wedding, as he walked down the aisle Prince Harry turned to me with a cheeky grin and said: “Oh hello Compo!”.
Even on such a big day, with the eyes of the world on him, he took the time to care.
And I met him numerous times at charity events for Help4Heroes. So I am in no doubt of the depth of his feelings for the military.
That has also been shown with his support of the Invictus Games, which I truly believe he will still continue to support despite this.
I never met the Duchess of Sussex, but I hope they have found the joy with their family life that I have gone on to find with mine.
Prince Harry would have been immensely proud of his patronages. I am in no doubt of that.
- MARTYN is the founder of, and a driver for, Stand2 Motorsport.
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