Why Did Prince Harry Promise To Leave Army Before Starting A Family?

Prince Harry served the military for a decade, but he had no plans to continue the service when he became a family man.

The Duke of Sussex is currently in the Netherlands for the fifth Invictus Games. He founded the annual event for the injured veterans. It's the first time he attended the event as Meghan Markle's husband and a dad to son Archie, 2, and 10-month-old daughter Lilibet.

In an interview with People, the royal acknowledged the sacrifices made by service members. He recalled when he was still in the Army and shared how he had planned to quit before starting a family.

"Being a dad certainly adds another emotional layer to it," Prince Harry told People. "When I was in the Army, I promised myself I would be out before having a wife and kids, because I couldn't imagine the heartache of being apart for so long during deployment, the risk of possibly getting injured and the reality that my family's lives could be changed forever if that happened."

He noted that all the members of the Invictus Games have "experienced varying degrees of these things." He praised them and their families for their "sacrifice in the name of service."

"For the dads and mums who have served, and have been wounded or injured or fallen ill, there's nothing that compares to seeing them rediscover their ability to do whatever they put their minds to," he continued. "There's nothing like seeing their kids watch proudly from the stands. It's a true inspiration and a deeply touching experience."

Josh Smith, the Team USA co-captain who first met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the 2018 Australia Games, said fatherhood gave them an "immediate connection."

"The Duke came over to me, shook my hand, gave me five. He said, 'It's great to see you again, Josh. Thanks for being here.' That's something that's really special coming from the creator of the Games," Smith told the outlet.

Prince Harry served as a fellow combat veteran and the British Army for a decade. He also made two tours in Afghanistan. His experience also made it easy for him to relate to the athletes competing in the adaptive sports tournament.

According to royal biographer Angela Levin, author of "Harry: A Biography of a Prince," the duke was inspired by James Hewitt to join the Army. He was just a toddler when he met the British former cavalry officer, and the latter took him to visit Combermere Barracks in Windsor. The incident prompted him to be like them one day, Prince Harry allegedly exclaimed he was "going to be a soldier when I grow up."

"The soldier-mad toddler was fascinated by everything to do with the army, so it's no surprise he took to Hewitt straight away," Levin explained. "He wore a military uniform, rode horses and made his mummy happy. Harry was always incredibly close to his mother, and when Diana showed strong feelings for Hewitt he followed her example."