When someone is training for the “toughest race on Earth”, royalty or not, you should try not to give them a fright.
But Prince Harry has always been a rule breaker.
This week, Meghan Markle’s beau could barely contain his chuckles when he paid his dear friend, Duncan Slater, a visit.
The double leg amputee is currently preparing for the Marathon des Sables – a 150-mile [approx 251km] race across the Sahara which takes place over six days.
And the former veteran plans to raise money for Prince Harry’s beloved charity, Walking with the Wounded.
When Duncan spotted Harry he shouted: “**. How’s it going? Holy **”.
Smashing it out on the treadmill, the last thing Duncan expected to see was the smiling royal next to him.
“Don’t fall, don’t swear!” Harry joked before shaking his friend’s hand.
“How are you going? All right?”
Adding, “Nice to see you. This is horrible. I wasn’t really in the neighbourhood but I had to come and see you sweating your balls off on a treadmill in a sauna!”
Duncan was a solider fighting in Afghanistan back in 2009 when he tragically lost both of his legs in a bomb blast. Always the fighter, he never let his injuries stop him from testing his limits.
He bravely joined the fifth-in-line-to-the-throne on an expedition to the South Pole back in 2013.
Harry wanted to see how his friend was doing ahead of his big race.
This will be the second time Duncan will compete in the ridiculously difficult Marathon des Sables.
The first time he was forced to quit in the final leg of the race as his his stumps were “rubbed raw.”
This year, with the help of carbon fibre limbs and intensive heat training, the war hero hopes to cross the finish line – making him the first double amputee to complete the challenge.
Prince Harry chatted to Duncan about how he was coming along.
“You’re looking in really good shape,” the 32-year-old remarked.
In the midst of endurance test consisting of running on a treadmill in 40 degree heat, Duncan replied, “Yeah, that was quite hot I’ll be honest! That was miserable.”
The duo became close friends following their 2013 expedition to the South Pole.
Despite being a double leg amputee, Duncan has never stopped achieving all his goals.
“Hard to breathe, or?” Prince Harry queried to which Duncan replied, “No, just so hot. Everywhere. Even the breeze is ridiculous.”
Harry was astounded when he discovered Duncan had been training for 50 minutes, and still had another ten to go.
“Ten more minutes? There’s no way I’m staying in here for 10 minutes. You’re having a laugh.”
The royal was clearly impressed by his friend, but was confused by why he was putting himself through such agony.
“Why? Why again? Why after everything else you’ve done and been through?,” Harry questioned.
Duncan explained, “I’m working for the charity (Walking with the Wounded) so anything I can do to raise awareness for the charity is a good day out.”
“On the other hand I want to keep pushing. When I got to the South Pole, everyone was relieved and chuffed to bits but when I came back from that, I just felt like, what now?”
Prince Harry has worked with Walking with the Wounded for many years.
A charity that is very close to the former military man’s heart, they support veterans with physical, mental or social injuries on their journey to reintegrate back into society, regain their independence and secure sustainable employment.
