As SAS Australia ramps up for another season, you may spot a familiar face – and it may be because he’s best friends with an even more familiar face, Prince Harry.
DS Dean Stott, a former British Special Forces soldier and private security director, first met the Duke of Sussex, 37, in 2007 in North Yorkshire, England, when they were partnered together in a Forward Air Controllers’ training course.
Just 22 at the time, Harry – who was just about to embark on his first tour of Afghanistan – took an instant liking to Dean.
Dean Stott and Prince Harry were partnered together in a Forward Air Controllers’ training course in the British military.
(Image: Instagram)“We hit it off straight away,” Dean, 44, tells Woman’s Day.
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“I think the relationship grew strong from there because I just treated him like another soldier.
“There was no preferential treatment and he was the most comfortable in that environment as well. It was one of the times that he would be just a normal civilian, and he loved that.”
Following the course and despite their high-flying careers taking them all over the world, Dean and Harry managed to maintain their close friendship by keeping “communication open”, with Harry proving to be one of Dean’s main supporters while he went through a rough period in his life.
“I was approaching my 40th and I was having a bit of a midlife crisis. I was thinking, ‘What am I doing? What legacy am I going to leave behind?’
“And so I thought, I’ve always wanted to go into the Guinness Book of Records for something like cycling and so I went and bought a bike on Amazon and in the spring of 2018 I cycled all the way from Argentina to Alaska,” he says.
It was Harry who supported him every step of the way.
“He called me throughout the entire journey, checking in and motivating me to keep going. And the idea to use that ride to also raise money for charity, that was his idea.”
With his best friend behind him, Dean smashed the world record and raised more than $1 million for mental health charity Heads Together.
The pair have since worked together on numerous charitable endeavours throughout the years.
Now when the friends find time to get together – coincidentally they both now reside just a few hours away from each other in California – Dean likes to “keep things casual” by bringing together his wife Alana and their two children, Mollie, 10, and Tommy, five, to hang out with Harry, wife Meghan, Archie, two, and eight-month-old Lilibet.
“It’s all about the family,” he says.
WATCH: Barry Hall opens up on SAS Australia. Story continues after video.
And while he acknowledges there has been controversy shrouding the Sussexes ever since they left the monarchy in 2020, Dean says there’s never time for any negativity.
“We’ve known each other 15 years. We were friends before he had a family, and before I had a family, so there’s no need to bring any of that sort of thing into the picture,” he admits.
“But he is who he is and his trust circle is so tight – I’m just glad that I’m still in there.”
While Dean’s royal affiliation may have taken his life in new directions, make no mistake – as Directing Staff on SAS Australia, his mind is always on the job, and he’s not going to go easy on any of the new recruits.
As Directing Staff on SAS Australia, Dean’s mind is always on the job.
(Image: Channel Seven)“If they mess up, I’m obviously going to scream and shout,” he laughs. “But I’m probably more on the calm side compared to Ant [Middleton].
“But I was so surprised at how real it all is. There are no holds barred and I was pleasantly surprised by the recruits, particularly the women. They really held their own,” he says.
But how does he think Prince Harry would go as a contestant on the show?
“I think he’d be fine. He’s a soldier so he’s used to that atmosphere. But I’m not sure he’d appreciate me shouting at him,” he laughs.
Want all the details on the latest season of SAS: Australia? Check out these stories:
Is SAS Australia really “as fake as MAFS”? Here’s the truth
Where is SAS Australia filmed? Inside the brutal location
Who is SAS Australia’s ruthless leader Ant Middleton?
SAS Australia star Anna Heinrich’s baby stole our hearts
Inside Locky Gilbert and Irena Srbinovska’s relationship
Meet the family waiting for Barry Hall at home after SAS
