Prince Harry completed a skydive to honour a promise he made to a 102-year-old Second World War veteran before immediately ringing Meghan to let her know that he had landed safely. 

The Duke of Sussex jumped out of a plane outside Toronto to raise awareness and money for two Canadian military charities, Sunnybrook and the True Patriot Love Foundation.

He also made a promise to World War II veteran Ed Marshall last year, who told the Duke that he had skydived for his 100th birthday. 

So inspired by the veteran, Harry promised he would skydive with him on his return to Toronto.  

The Duke of Sussex, who is preparing to stage his Invictus Games for military veterans, was speaking to Canadian network CTV after completing the skydive.

Harry said that he did not need to ‘convince’ his wife, Meghan Markle, to do the skydive but that she was ‘very relieved once we were down’. 

He said: ‘It took a while to get up so I think she was like “Are they down yet? Are they down yet?”‘ 

The first thing the Duke did after he landed safely was to call his wife.    

Harry added: ‘I’m not in the business of letting people down but you cannot let a 102-year-old veteran down.

The Duke of Sussex jumped out of a plane outside Toronto to raise awareness and money for two Canadian military charities

Harry immediately rang Meghan to let her know that he had landed safely

Harry made a promise to World War II veteran Ed Marshall last year, who told the Duke that he had skydived for his 100th birthday

‘There was the medical evaluation that he had [which meant he couldn’t skydive] and he was devastated that he couldn’t jump but it was great to have him in the back. 

‘They did put a parachute on him. We did think that he was probably going to jump by himself.

‘We’re glad he didn’t. He’s still here and he’s going to be 103 in two months’ time.’ 

Harry told the broadcaster things are going ‘great’ after the family returned to Britain on August 26. 

He said: ‘It’s been great to be back on British soil.’

He said of Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five: ‘The kids are happy in school and it gives me a chance to really focus on Invictus in Birmingham.’

CTV said it had asked the duke what prompted the family’s relocation and he replied ‘lots of reasons’ but did not elaborate, noting that he did not want to distract from his efforts to raise money for Canadian veterans charities. 

The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons, but rumours remain rife as to why they unexpectedly relocated to the UK from California, where they had created a life away from the institution of the monarchy. 

Speculation ranges from the couple wanting their children to develop a closer relationship with their grandfather the King, Meghan seeking a return to acting and the Sussexes wanting to increase their profile.

From left: Dr. Andy Smith, Bailey Fullan, Prince Harry and Jeremy Blair proudly stand together after completing a charity skydive in support of Sunnybrook and True Patriot Love Foundation in Cookstown

Prince Harry leads group of skydivers to the plane ahead of a charity skydive

In the run-up to their return, Charles was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the family but remained adamant they would not be working royals, and there was no half-in, half-out option.

Within two weeks of arriving, there was reported pushback from Harry and Meghan after a letter, authorised by the King, was circulated by the Lord Chamberlain to senior stakeholders in the Government and military reiterating the couple were ‘private citizens’ and setting out guidance on how they should be treated.

The duke and duchess were said to be ‘surprised’ by the formal letter and the couple, who are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security, were reported to prefer the term ‘public figures’ instead.

Schooling has also been an issue for the Sussexes, with Archie and Lilibet moved to a new undisclosed institution after reportedly just two days in class.

The decision came after heavy traffic and the lengthy journey to the school reportedly put their security team under strain.