With Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, having just wrapped up a two-day visit to Toronto as well. Throughout his visit, he engaged with Canadian veterans and the armed forces community leading up to Remembrance Day. Among those he encountered was 101-year-old Brenda Reid, an intimidating Second World War navy veteran. She even gave a deeply moving performance of her wonderful service rocket stories to Harry and other former servicepeople throughout the night.
Harry’s journey was all about celebrating military service and included a lot of grassroots connections with dynamic military charities. While he was here he checked out military helmets painted by veterans. Every helmet had a different story to tell about their time spent while deployed. Sharing his knowledge, he offered to guide a fellow veteran’s artistic journey. This act illustrated his true interest in making a personal connection.
In between meetings and panels while in Toronto, Harry repped Los Angeles Dodgers gear. We even caught a glimpse of him at an amazing World Series game vs the Toronto Blue Jays! He later joked about his choice, stating, “Firstly, I would like to apologise to Canada for wearing it.” He added, “Secondly, I was under duress. There wasn’t much choice,” emphasizing the light-hearted nature of the incident.
Harry explained that it was “the polite thing to do” to wear the Dodgers cap. He displayed it proudly even after the invitation to the Red Sox owner brought him into the team’s dugout. Even so, he continued to cheer the Blue Jays on in games five, six and seven of the series. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, definitely turned heads in her Dodgers attire at the playoff games. She’s expressed her dedication to the Blue Jays, owing to her bond with Toronto while shooting the legal drama Suits.
In the process, in addition to getting to know Reid, Harry developed a professional relationship with Harold Toth. Harold, a 95-year-old Korean War veteran, originally joined with the Queen’s Own Rifles. These experiences just amplified by the need for remembering and honoring those who’ve served in our nation’s military.
Harry and Meghan relocated to Los Angeles in 2020 after having spent the early months of their separation from royal duties in Canada. They recently moved to Montecito, California, with their kids, Archie and Lilibet. Our visit served to underscore their continuing connection and commitment to the Canadian community and military heritage.
Brenda Reid offered her own perspective on the visit, sharing a light-hearted comment: “You can’t always believe the boys,” reflecting on her interactions with veterans and their stories.
“When you’re missing a lot of hair on top, and you’re sitting under floodlights, you’ll take any hat that’s available.” – The Duke of Sussex