Prince Harry Completes Charity Skydive for 102-Year-Old Veteran, Then Calls Meghan
Prince Harry took to the skies for a special charity challenge in Toronto, fulfilling a promise he had made to a 102-year-old World War II veteran.
The Duke of Sussex completed a skydive alongside Bailey, the grandson of veteran Ed Marshall, after a medical evaluation determined that Marshall could not safely make the jump himself.
Harry, 42, first met Marshall during a visit to the veterans center at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto last November. The two bonded over their military backgrounds and shared commitment to supporting veterans before coming up with the idea of completing a skydive together.
Although Marshall was unable to jump, he still joined Harry and his grandson on the flight and watched the pair take part in the challenge.
“Ed’s been really excited about this. There’s no version where you can let a 102-year-old veteran down,” Harry said after landing.
Harry joked that Marshall had even been fitted with a parachute and admitted he was glad the veteran ultimately decided not to make the jump himself.
“He was devastated that he couldn’t jump, but it was great to have him in the back,” Harry said. “Glad he didn’t and he’s still here! And he’s going to be 103 in a few months’ time.”
Harry Calls Meghan After the Jump
One of Harry’s first actions after landing was calling his wife, Meghan Markle.
When asked whether he had needed to convince Meghan to let him take part in the risky challenge as a father of two, Harry said she did not need convincing.
“I didn’t have to convince her, but she was relieved once we were down,” he explained, joking that the long wait during the flight probably had Meghan wondering when they would finally land.
Harry also playfully blamed Marshall for getting him involved in the challenge.
“I said, ‘I can’t, I don’t want to do it, I wish I could get out of it,’ but Ed is very persuasive!” he said.
For Bailey, jumping alongside Harry in place of his grandfather made the experience particularly meaningful.
He praised Harry for taking the time to recognize his grandfather’s military service and for being willing to participate in the challenge.
Harry Shares Family Update
During the interview, Harry also offered an update on his family’s life back in the U.K., following his and Meghan’s move with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
“It’s been great. It’s been great to be back on British soil,” Harry said, joking that it was also nice to be “back on terra firma” after the skydive.
“The kids are happy in school,” he added, explaining that being in the U.K. has also allowed him to focus more closely on the Invictus Games in Birmingham, which are scheduled for July next year.
Skydive Supports Military Charities
The charity jump benefited Sunnybrook and the True Patriot Love Foundation, two organizations supporting Canada’s military community.
Marshall, a former paratrooper who trained during World War II, had previously completed a charity skydive to mark his 100th birthday. That achievement helped inspire Harry to take on the challenge in his honor.
Harry’s connection to the organizations also goes back several years. True Patriot Love helped introduce him to Sunnybrook and was involved in bringing the Invictus Games to Canada in 2017 and again in 2025.
The skydive came shortly after Harry’s visit to New York, where he appeared at Goals House and attended the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting before traveling to Toronto for the charity event.