Prince Harry: Military families are 'role models' with values that are 'lacking' in modern world

Prince Harry has hailed military families as "role models" for the public, saying their values of teamwork, respect, discipline and leadership are "often lacking" in the modern world.

The Prince, who delivered a speech to a health conference in Toronto on Monday, praised the example set by service families, and the "profound effect" they have on their communities.

Entering the Beanfield Centre, Toronto, in procession, he was accompanied by a bagpiper and looked serious as he embarked on the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research forum.

Prince Harry

He went on to hear about academic research into the Invictus Games, which proved it has had a positive effect on competitors.

Addressing the crowded room from a stage, he said: "We believed the Games would make a real difference. Competitors, friends and their families told us that the Games were not only changing lives, but saving lives. 

"And now what we believed to be true has been backed up by this high-quality academic research." He added: "Now I have long believed that individuals who wear the uniform are role models for society. 

"Their families understand the true meaning of teamwork, respect, discipline and leadership. 

"And in a world where this is often lacking, I bet the values by which service families live their lives and the example they set for others through these Games, is having a profound effect on their communities and far beyond.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could prove that too!"

The Prince left some in the room emotional as he read a letter from the wife of a US competitor, which thanked him for creating the games which inspired him to smile when life elsewhere could not.

The mother of three, who was not named by the Prince, wrote to tell him: "My husband is on the USA team and when he’s competing I see him smile. A genuine smile. 

"I cry because that’s the one thing I can’t do as his wife. Thank you for these games! They truly were a blessing because his smile is something we’ve missed!”

The Prince hailed ongoing research into the effect of the games, led by Dr Celina Shirazipour, which being conducted by Dalhousie University and the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research.

Dr Shirazipour told a conference that the role of families in the recovery of military service members and veterans had not been studied extensively before.

She has gathered interview with former and current competitors from the Invictus Games, aiming to continue to improve their experience. 

Many participants, she said, described Invictus as a "transformative experience", with "making the team giving some individuals the reason they needed to put full effort into recovery."

Others had described the games as the "world's biggest family", with participation "the glue they needed to reconnect". 

In one case, she said, an interviewee told her that winning a place at Invictus saved him from taking his own life.

"There is something special about this journey," she said. "There's something special happening here."

The research so far, she added, had emphasised the value of family in supporting recovery, and the importance of setting goals for competitors after the games.

The study will investigate how sports participation may influence servicemen and women and veterans as they reintegrate into society.