The Evening Standard and The Independent newspaper’s Christmas Appeal for homeless veterans is dedicated to supporting the men and women who have fallen on hard times upon returning to civilian life.
The Duke, who spent more than seven years in the military, said of his commitment to this charity,
“The men and women of the armed forces serve all of us with their lives when called upon by their country. They would give their life to protect us, and they expect little in return,” he said.
“The armed forces life is tough, it’s unique, and it is also difficult sometimes to make the transition into civilian life afterwards. It troubles me deeply that our servicemen and women possess extraordinary courage, skills and talent, yet many find it difficult to gain meaningful employment in the civilian world and can fall on hard times.”
The Evening Standard and The Independent’s joint appeal will raise money for two charities aimed at getting returned soldiers back on their feet, the ABF The Soldier’s Charity and Veterans Aid.
The chief of staff of the ABF The Soldier’s Charity said of Prince William’s involvement in the cause,
“Support from His Royal Highness is extremely special and very warmly welcomed. Prince William has his own personal experiences of serving in the military so his backing shows how important the campaign is,” he said.