Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, joined over 280 bereaved military children and young people as they came together for a virtual Christmas party hosted by Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.
Christmas can be a particularly challenging time for bereaved families, magnifying the absence of a loved one. Scotty’s virtual Christmas party provided a space for members of the charity to feel connected, supported, and reminded that they are not alone.
Prince Harry, who is Scotty’s Global Ambassador, joined the festive event held on 10 December for 30 minutes of fun and connection. The children and young people enjoyed a series of interactive games, including building towers with cushions and making snowmen out of toilet rolls. The virtual party was hosted by Sharky and George, expert party and event planners, ensuring the session was filled with laughter and joy.
During the online event, there was a Q&A session, where The Duke of Sussex, who is a long-standing supporter of Scotty’s, engaged with members, sharing his own Christmas memories. Prior to the party, members of Scotty’s were invited to submit questions for The Duke to answer. The questions ranged from fun and random, to serving with the Armed Forces and one touched upon what it’s like to be bereaved. Six members of Scotty’s joined Prince Harry in answering a selection of the questions, sharing their own experiences and strengthening the feeling of community.
The Duke also shared a special message with the young people. He told them:
“It’s okay to feel however you feel at Christmas. Some people will be celebrating and happy, other people feel reflective, some people will be sad, and maybe you’ll experience every single one of these emotions and that’s absolutely fine. Remember you’ve got each other, you’ve got Scotty’s and you’ve got the people that love you.”
Bethan, a 23-year-old member of Scotty’s, participated in the Q&A alongside Prince Harry. Her father, Warrant Officer Class 2 David Coomber, who served in the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army, died in 2011 when Bethan was nine. Reflecting on the virtual party, Bethan shared:
“It was great to have so many members of Scotty’s together. The games were good fun and helped everyone feel involved. I felt a real connection with Prince Harry. The party was upbeat and in no way sombre, but Prince Harry reminded us that he understands what we have all been through and that it’s okay to feel a mixture of emotions. He also made it clear to us that he is part of the Scotty’s community and proud to support us, which means a lot.”
Nikki Scott, who founded Scotty’s in 2010, following the death of her husband Cpl Lee Scott in Afghanistan, said:
“Christmas can be a difficult time for bereaved children and young people, but this event reminded our members that they are part of a community that cares and understands.
“At Scotty’s, we organise a number of in-person events, but having this party virtually meant that it was open to all our members. We even had members who joined from Germany, Thailand and Australia! It was incredible to see over 280 young people enjoying themselves and engaging. Events, whether in-person or virtual, help remind our members that they aren’t alone. We also find that after events, families are more likely to get in touch and ask for help if they are struggling. We offer a range of support, including 1:1 bereavement support session, which can make a huge difference to a family and could help prevent reaching crisis point.”
Nikki continued:
“Prince Harry has been a massive supporter of Scotty’s for a number of years and having him at our virtual Christmas party made it really special and memorable for our members.”
So far this year, Scotty’s has supported over 730 bereaved military children and young people. Scotty’s estimates that each year 2,100 children are newly bereaved of parent who served in the British Armed Forces*. The charity wants to support these children and has a long-term goal of supporting over 1,000 young people annually by 2030.
Scotty’s is evolving its programme of events to maximise their impact and is planning a new schedule for 2025, ensuring members continue to receive the highest level of support throughout their childhood and beyond.
For more information about Scotty’s Little Soldiers, please visit www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk.
