It will be a very hard Christmas for those who have had someone close ripped away from them,As William and i did
CARING Princes William and Harry have sent a heartfelt message of support to newly grieving Forces families at Christmas - drawing on the loss of their own mother.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the royals said they know the pain felt by the 103 families whose sons and daughters have fallen in Afghanistan this year, with another in Iraq. The latest victim was named yesterday as Corporal Simon Hornby, 29.
The grim toll is the worst suffered by Britain's Armed Forces in the 27 years since the Falklands War.
And Army officer Harry said he understood the tragedy of having a "very close life ripped away" after the bitter blow of mum Diana's car crash death when he was only 12.
Harry, 25, spoke out following last week's extraordinary Sun Military Awards - which saluted the Forces' unsung finest and will be broadcast on ITV1 at 9pm tonight.
The Prince said: "I think for the families - the mothers and fathers and the brothers and all the loved ones who have lost a fellow member of the family or a loved one themselves - that it's going to be a very, very hard Christmas.
"Especially if it's their first since they have lost a son or a daughter. They have had a very close life ripped away from them as William and I did - but in very different circumstances.
"I'm sure they will know that everyone's thoughts, especially ours, will be going out to those who have lost loved ones."
Harry and William, 27, revealed they were left deeply moved by our military heroes' stories of incredible sacrifice and bravery at the Millies ceremony in London.
Heaping praise on the ranks he will one day command as King, trainee military helicopter pilot William said: "You really do feel the pain and dedication that the guys give.
WATCH A NIGHT OF HEROES: THE SUN MILITARY AWARDS, ITV1, TONIGHT 9pm
"The word 'sacrifice' is used an awful lot - and it's an understatement really to say sacrifice, because it's so much more than that.
"But believe me, I feel utterly proud and lucky to have the Armed Forces that we do."
The Millies' emotional climax came as Harry presented an award to eight mums dubbed the Band of Mothers whose sons were all killed in Afghanistan over the same day.
The Prince threw aside Royal protocol to hug one of the mums, sobbing Jane Whitehouse, on stage.
He said: "I think it's always to be expected that they are going to be emotional. These are mothers who have lost their sons very tragically. They were very emotional - mainly because no one had warned them that they were going to win. It was a complete surprise to them.
"But together as a group they held their nerve, they were strong."
The mums have refused to let their grief beat them and formed the charity Afghan Heroes to support bereaved families and frontline troops. Harry said: "It's amazing to see what they have achieved and how they cope with their loss. They will be spending Christmas probably as a group and without the sons they lost. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."
Harry said he enjoyed his stint on the Afghan frontline two years ago.
He said: "I think Christmas is going to be difficult for anyone, especially for the ones serving actually in the operational zone. Let's not forget we've got forces all over the world - but we are talking mainly about the ones in Afghanistan. It is very, very hard.
"I was lucky enough to be there at Christmas I suppose, just to experience it for myself.
"I was with the Gurkhas who don't really celebrate Christmas that much, but we still had a fantastic time."
Harry said it was a shame his dad, Millies founding patron Prince Charles, missed last week's bash due to his speech at the Copenhagen climate summit.
Family snap ... mum Diana with William
and Harry as boys
But he said he and Wills, who recently passed exams on his way to becoming an RAF search and rescue pilot, were "absolutely thrilled" to attend as serving officers.
He said it was important to attend "not so much to show respect, but to show how proud we are to work along with people like this".
Both brothers said the huge celebrity turnout at the Millies was vital to highlight the cause. Reflecting on how he would remember the night, William said: "Memories will be mixed with sadness and realisation, but also with joy for the fact the awards are actually happening.
"The awards highlight the tip-of-the-iceberg guys. But for me, they sum up the entire Forces and that they keep doing the job they're doing. We wish them the very best of luck."
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