Prince Harry's Invictus Games role AT RISK as bombshell memoir backfires again - 'A self-inflicted wound'

Prince Harry risks being forced to give up his much loved role at the Invictus Games charity following backlash from military veterans at comments made in his memoir, Spare.

Military insiders have admitted his claim that he killed 25 Taliban while in Afghanistan has angered former serving personnel.

The Duke of Sussex served two tours in the Middle Eastern country while in the Army.

[rebelmouse-image 32936597 expand=1 alt="File photo dated 12/12/2012 of Prince Harry or Captain Wales as he was known in the British Army, making his early morning pre-flight checks in the cockpit, at Camp Bastion, southern Afghanistan. The Duke of Sussex has consoled Lee Spencer, a former royal marine who had to pull out of an epic Triathlon of Great Britain challenge, telling him he should be "really proud" of his achievements. Harry video-called Lee, a single leg amputee, who was left devastated when forced, due to injury, to end his bid to swim the English Channel, cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats and climb the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales. Issue date: Wednesday August 31, 2022." site_id=25354495 is_animated_gif=false original_size="3500x2343" caption="Prince Harry served two tours in Afghanistan" photo_credit="John Stillwell" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/32936597/origin.jpg%22%2C%22thumbnails%22%3A%7B%22origin%22%3A%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/32936597/origin.jpg%22%2C%222000x1500%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D2000%26height%3D1500%26coordinates%3D188%252C0%252C188%252C0%22%2C%22600x300%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D600%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D0%252C296%252C0%252C297%22%2C%221200x800%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26coordinates%3D0%252C5%252C0%252C5%22%2C%2235x35%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D35%26height%3D35%22%2C%22600x400%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D600%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D0%252C5%252C0%252C5%22%2C%22300x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D300%22%2C%221500x2000%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D1500%26height%3D2000%26coordinates%3D871%252C0%252C871%252C0%22%2C%221200x400%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D1200%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D0%252C588%252C0%252C589%22%2C%22600x600%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D600%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D578%252C0%252C579%252C0%22%2C%22210x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D210%22%2C%221200x600%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D1200%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D0%252C296%252C0%252C297%22%2C%22750x1000%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D750%26height%3D1000%26coordinates%3D871%252C0%252C871%252C0%22%2C%221000x750%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D1000%26height%3D750%26coordinates%3D188%252C0%252C188%252C0%22%2C%22600x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D600%22%2C%221245x700%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%252C187%252C0%252C188%22%2C%22600x200%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D600%26height%3D200%26coordinates%3D0%252C588%252C0%252C589%22%2C%22980x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D980%22%2C%22300x300%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D300%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D578%252C0%252C579%252C0%22%2C%22700x1245%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-12-12-2012-of-prince-harry-or-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-making-his-early-morning-pre-fl.jpg%3Fid%3D32936597%26width%3D700%26height%3D1245%26coordinates%3D1091%252C0%252C1091%252C0%22%7D%2C%22manual_image_crops%22%3A%7B%229x16%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22700x1245%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A2343%2C%22width%22%3A1318%2C%22left%22%3A1091%7D%2C%22600x300%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22600x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A296%2C%22height%22%3A1750%2C%22width%22%3A3500%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%223x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x400%22%2C%22600x200%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A588%2C%22height%22%3A1166%2C%22width%22%3A3500%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%223x2%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x800%22%2C%22600x400%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A5%2C%22height%22%3A2333%2C%22width%22%3A3500%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%221x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22600x600%22%2C%22300x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A2343%2C%22width%22%3A2343%2C%22left%22%3A578%7D%2C%223x4%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221500x2000%22%2C%22750x1000%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A2343%2C%22width%22%3A1758%2C%22left%22%3A871%7D%2C%2216x9%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221245x700%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A187%2C%22height%22%3A1968%2C%22width%22%3A3500%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%224x3%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%222000x1500%22%2C%221000x750%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A2343%2C%22width%22%3A3124%2C%22left%22%3A188%7D%2C%222x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x600%22%2C%22600x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A296%2C%22height%22%3A1750%2C%22width%22%3A3500%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%7D%7D"]
Prince Harry served two tours in Afghanistan
John Stillwell

Writing about his time as an Apache helicopter pilot he said he did not think of those he killed as "people" but as "chess pieces" that needed to be removed.

Insiders fear the remarks will be a "self-inflicted wound" for the Prince that force him to step back from the Invictus Games.

The military charity, which was founded by Harry in 2014, is an international multi-sport for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.

The games are next due to take place in September in Dusseldorf, Germany.

A senior military officer told The Mirror: “Harry’s book has become a self-inflicted wound from which he might never recover.

“It may be a bestseller but the damage done to his reputation, especially among the forces and veterans, could be beyond repair.”

A member of the veterans charity added: “Harry was idolised by veterans. Many who have competed in the games will tell you it saved their lives.

“But the tide has turned with the publication of Spare and Harry may be viewed as toxic by many veterans.

“If so, he may have to give up his patronage.”

Last night an Army Major who helped oversee the training of Prince Harry also branded him “disgraceful”.

[rebelmouse-image 32936598 expand=1 alt="File photo dated 03/11/2012 of Prince Harry (right) or just plain Captain Wales as he was known in the British Army, racing out from the VHR (very high readiness) tent to scramble his Apache with fellow Pilots, during his 12 hour shift at the British controlled flight-line in Camp Bastion southern Afghanistan, where he was serving as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps, from September 2012 for four months until January 2013. The former soldier said the time he spent in the Army, when he was "just Harry", was "the best escape I've ever had" and he had considered giving up his title. Issue date: Thursday September 8, 2022." site_id=25354495 is_animated_gif=false original_size="2168x1636" caption="The royal admitted to killing 25 Taliban in his memoirs" photo_credit="John Stillwell" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/32936598/origin.jpg%22%2C%22thumbnails%22%3A%7B%22origin%22%3A%22https%3A//assets.rbl.ms/32936598/origin.jpg%22%2C%222000x1500%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D2000%26height%3D1500%26coordinates%3D0%252C5%252C0%252C5%22%2C%22600x300%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D600%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D0%252C276%252C0%252C276%22%2C%221200x800%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26coordinates%3D0%252C95%252C0%252C96%22%2C%2235x35%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D35%26height%3D35%22%2C%22600x400%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D600%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D0%252C95%252C0%252C96%22%2C%22300x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D300%22%2C%221500x2000%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D1500%26height%3D2000%26coordinates%3D470%252C0%252C471%252C0%22%2C%221200x400%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D1200%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D0%252C457%252C0%252C457%22%2C%22600x600%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D600%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D266%252C0%252C266%252C0%22%2C%22210x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D210%22%2C%221200x600%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D1200%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D0%252C276%252C0%252C276%22%2C%22750x1000%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D750%26height%3D1000%26coordinates%3D470%252C0%252C471%252C0%22%2C%221000x750%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D1000%26height%3D750%26coordinates%3D0%252C5%252C0%252C5%22%2C%22600x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D600%22%2C%221245x700%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%252C208%252C0%252C209%22%2C%22600x200%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D600%26height%3D200%26coordinates%3D0%252C457%252C0%252C457%22%2C%22980x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D980%22%2C%22300x300%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D300%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D266%252C0%252C266%252C0%22%2C%22700x1245%22%3A%22https%3A//www.gbnews.com/media-library/file-photo-dated-03-11-2012-of-prince-harry-right-or-just-plain-captain-wales-as-he-was-known-in-the-british-army-racing-out-fro.jpg%3Fid%3D32936598%26width%3D700%26height%3D1245%26coordinates%3D623%252C0%252C624%252C0%22%7D%2C%22manual_image_crops%22%3A%7B%229x16%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22700x1245%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A1636%2C%22width%22%3A921%2C%22left%22%3A623%7D%2C%22600x300%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22600x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A276%2C%22height%22%3A1084%2C%22width%22%3A2168%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%223x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x400%22%2C%22600x200%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A457%2C%22height%22%3A722%2C%22width%22%3A2168%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%223x2%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x800%22%2C%22600x400%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A95%2C%22height%22%3A1445%2C%22width%22%3A2168%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%221x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22600x600%22%2C%22300x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A1636%2C%22width%22%3A1636%2C%22left%22%3A266%7D%2C%223x4%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221500x2000%22%2C%22750x1000%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A1636%2C%22width%22%3A1227%2C%22left%22%3A470%7D%2C%2216x9%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221245x700%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A208%2C%22height%22%3A1219%2C%22width%22%3A2168%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%224x3%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%222000x1500%22%2C%221000x750%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A5%2C%22height%22%3A1626%2C%22width%22%3A2168%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%222x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x600%22%2C%22600x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A276%2C%22height%22%3A1084%2C%22width%22%3A2168%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%22custom%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%222168x1636%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A1237%2C%22width%22%3A2168%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%7D%2C%22image_crop%22%3A%22custom%22%7D" image_crop="custom"]
The royal admitted to killing 25 Taliban in his memoirs
John Stillwell

Major Mike Shearer told GB News: “It is disgraceful behaviour. I've been in a number of conflicts where the enemy has met their end. Of course, you fight hard. That's what we're there to do.

"But as soon as the enemy is dead, they get the utmost respect. And there's no gloating.

"Quite frankly, there's no time for gloating and to talk about soldiers, the Taliban, who are fighting for their cause, to speak about them as 'chess pieces that you just knock over', I'm bewildered that it would come to that."

In his book, Prince Harry wrote about his enemy kills: "My number: 25. It wasn’t a number that gave me any satisfaction. But neither was it a number that made me feel ashamed.

"In the heat and fog of combat, I didn’t think of those 25 as people. I’d been trained to ‘other-ise’ them."