Prince Harry’s army friend spoke after Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke of Sussex would not return as a working member of the British royal family.
The palace said that the 36-year-old’s appointment as captain-general of the Royal Marines and titles with other military groups would revert to the queen before being distributed to other members of the family.
Harry was stripped of the titles of Honorary Air Commander of RAF Honington and Commander-in-Chief of Small Ships and Dive for the Royal Navy, Newsweek reported.
The prince, who served in the British army for a decade and has close ties to the military, founded the Invictus Games competition for wounded soldiers.
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“He was very passionate about what he did,” Martyn Compton told ITV’s “Lorraine” on Thursday. “Obviously he did his time. So, anyone who did time deserves what they have, you know? And to have it taken away – it’s going to be a big ordeal for him. It’s a big thing he did. And personally, it’s just – I hope it’s worth the penalty for him. “
Compton is a former British soldier in the Domestic Cavalry Regiment who was injured after an RPG set his vehicle on fire by a Taliban in Afghanistan, the UK DailyMail reported. He was also shot twice in the leg while trying to escape the burning debris. Compton stayed in the hospital for a year after suffering burns to 75 percent of his body.
Compton met Harry in 2006, just before he left for Afghanistan. They remained friends for 15 years.
“He was just a genuinely nice guy,” Compton recalled his first meeting with the duke. “Very affectionate. He never wanted any special treatment. He was just one of the guys. He’s just a normal guy. He does a lot of military charities … He’s just a caring and normal guy who happens to be a and he supported me in various charities and ventures that I did … [This] it’s a big ordeal for him to be able to do that – but he’s obviously looking after his family. “
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Prince Harry speaks to Martyn Compton, a former British soldier in the Domestic Cavalry Regiment who was injured after an RPG set fire to his vehicle in Afghanistan, at Lord Mayor’s Big Curry’s lunch in aid of ABF The Soldiers Charity in The Guildhall in April 7, 2016 in London, England.
(Photo by Alastair Grant – WPA Pool / Getty Images)
When Compton was asked if he believed Harry would like a different outcome, he replied, “I don’t think you can be royalty and profit from it – and the royal family said that, that’s why it all happened.”
Compton also shared that he will be connected at Harry’s next meeting with Oprah Winfrey.
“I will watch for what was said, but yes, it will be a great event and there is obviously a reason why he did it alone,” he said. “He’s a genuinely nice guy. And I’m sure he will do the right thing for his family.”
Harry currently lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle and firstborn Archie. On Valentine’s Day, a spokesman for the couple told Fox News that they were expecting their second child.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their second child.
(Photo by Karwai Tang / WireImage / Getty Images)
Last week, Buckingham Palace made the revelation about Harry’s condition as a hardworking member of the royal family alongside Markle, 39.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed Her Majesty, the Queen, that they will not return as active members of the Royal Family,” the statement said.
“After conversations with the duke, the queen wrote confirming that, by departing from the work of the royal family, it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties inherent in a life of public service,” the statement continued. “While everyone is saddened by their decision, the Duke and Duchess are still very dear members of the family.”
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcomed a son named Archie in 2019.
(Getty)
The decision came a year after Markle and Harry announced their plan to move away as older members of the royal family. The couple, who recently announced they are expecting their second child together, then agreed to a 12-month review of the decision.
It was done after the pair had conversations with members of the royal family.
According to the palace, the military, Commonwealth and charitable associations that will now revert to Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, include the Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ship and Diving, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, The Rugby Football Union, The Rugby Football League, The Royal National Theater and The Association of Commonwealth Universities.
In their January 2020 announcement to step back as senior members of the royal family, Markle and Harry discussed their intentions to work independently, dividing their time between the UK and North America.
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Prince Harry patrols the deserted city of Garmisir on January 2, 2008, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
(Photo by John Stillwell – POOL / Anwar Hussein Collection / WireImage / Getty Images)
At the time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said their decision came “after many months of reflection and internal discussions”.
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“We chose to make a transition this year to begin to conquer a new progressive role within this institution”, the couple shared on Instagram. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty, the Queen. It is with your encouragement, especially in recent years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
“We now plan to balance our time between the UK and North America, while continuing to honor our duty to the Queen, the Community and our sponsors,” they continued. “This geographical balance will allow us to raise our son with appreciation for the real tradition he was born in, while providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charity.”
The couple added that they would continue to work with the reigning monarch, 94, as well as Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and the older brother, Prince William.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced in 2019 that they were taking a step back as senior members of the British royal family.
(Getty)
“We look forward to sharing all the details of this exciting next stage in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our most deep thanks for your continued support. “
Markle and Harry welcomed a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in May 2019. The baby’s arrival came a year after the couple married in a royal televised ceremony in May 2018.
They recently announced that they will speak with Winfrey, 67, in a TV special to air next month.
A spokesman for the couple said in a statement that “as evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support. to the organizations they played regardless of the official role. We can all live a life of service. Service is universal. “
Melissa Roberto and The Associated Press of Fox News contributed to this report.