Prince Harry has joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in criticising false claims by President Donald Trump that British and NATO troops were not on the frontline in Afghanistan, saying the sacrifices of UK service personnel “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.” The Duke of Sussex, who served two tours in Afghanistan, said he lost friends during the conflict and noted that “the United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed,” adding that “thousands of lives were changed forever” as families continued to bear the cost of war.
The rare royal intervention came after President Trump told Fox News that NATO allies stayed “a little off the frontlines” during the Afghanistan war, remarks that Sir Keir described as “insulting and frankly appalling,” suggesting the US president should apologise. Downing Street said President Trump was “wrong” to diminish the role of British and NATO forces, stressing that UK troops served alongside US forces in “sustained combat operations” and paid a heavy price in lives lost and injuries sustained.
Veterans, bereaved families and politicians across parties reacted with anger, with Afghanistan veterans and relatives of fallen soldiers describing the comments as deeply hurtful, while defence officials reaffirmed that British troops fought and died on the frontline. Britain suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the conflict after the US, with 457 personnel killed, as allies insisted their service would “never be forgotten” and that NATO’s shared sacrifices following the September 11 attacks must be accurately acknowledged.