Prince Harry Jumps Out of a Plane in Canada to Keep a Special Promise, Then Immediately Calls Meghan Markle
Prince Harry Jumps Out of a Plane in Canada to Keep a Special Promise, Then Immediately Calls Meghan Markle
Paloma Chavez, Erin HillFri, September 25, 2026 at 8:15 PM UTC
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Meghan Markle in August 2026; Prince Harry on Sept. 21, 2026Credit: Vito Amati/The David Foster Foundation via Getty; Chris Jackson/Getty -
Prince Harry completed a charity skydive in Toronto alongside the grandson of 102-year-old World War II veteran Ed Marshall, who was unable to jump following a medical evaluation
The Duke of Sussex called Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, immediately after landing and joked that she was “relieved once we were down”
Harry also shared an update on his family’s move to the U.K., saying Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are “happy in school”
Prince Harry is taking his latest charity challenge to new heights.
The Duke of Sussex took part in a daring skydive outside Toronto, making good on a promise to a 102-year-old World War II veteran while raising awareness and support for military charities.
Harry, 42, first crossed paths with veteran Ed Marshall during a visit to the veterans center at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto last November. The pair connected over their shared military backgrounds and commitment to supporting the veteran community — and hatched a plan to jump out of a plane together.
After a medical evaluation determined that the 102-year-old veteran couldn’t safely make the jump, Marshall’s grandson, Bailey, stepped in to skydive alongside Harry in his place. Marshall still joined them for the flight, cheering them on from the plane.
“Ed’s been really excited about this. There’s no version where you can let a 102-year-old veteran down,” Harry said after completing the jump to CTV.
“He was devastated that he couldn’t jump, but it was great to have him in the back,” Harry added. “They did put a parachute on him. We did think that he was probably going to jump by himself — glad he didn’t and he’s still here! And he’s going to be 103 in a few months’ time.”
Harry’s first call after the jump was to his wife, Meghan Markle.
“We noticed you called your wife, the Duchess, immediately afterwards,” the interviewer said, before asking how difficult it had been to convince her to let him take part in the skydive as a father of two.
“I didn’t have to convince her, but she was relieved once we were down,” Harry said. “It took quite a while to get up, so I think she was like, ‘Are they down yet? Are they down yet?’ ”
Harry then jokingly put the blame on Marshall for getting him into the challenge in the first place.
“I’ve just been blaming Ed anyways,” he said. “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!”
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For Bailey, making the jump alongside Harry in his grandfather’s place made the moment even more meaningful.
“You would never assume that somebody with your schedule would do something to put yourself on the line for one, and just to take the time to take interest in what he’s done and his service — and your service — has been surreal for our family,” Bailey told Harry. “But just as my grandfather said, I mean, he’s just a normal guy. And that’s really the feeling that we get.”
Harry also gave an update on life back in the U.K. after moving there with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
“It’s been great. It’s been great to be back on British soil,” he said, before joking in a nod to the day’s adventure, “It’s great to be back on terra firma, actually!”
“It’s great. The kids are happy in school, and it gives me a chance to really focus on Invictus in Birmingham,” Harry continued. “The Games are in July next year.”
Marshall, a former paratrooper who trained during the Second World War, had a particularly memorable story to share with Harry last fall when the two first met. He told the Duke about completing a charity skydive himself to mark his 100th birthday — a feat that appears to have inspired Harry to take on the challenge in his honor.
“The idea stuck, and together, they devised a plan for another jump,” the Sunnybrook Foundation shared on its fundraiser page.
The stunt benefited two organizations supporting Canada’s military community, Sunnybrook and the True Patriot Love Foundation.
Harry’s connection to both charities runs deep. True Patriot Love was instrumental in introducing the Duke to Sunnybrook and played a role in helping bring the Invictus Games to Canada, first in 2017 and again in 2025.
The charity skydive is one of many of Prince Harry’s first series of public appearances since he and Meghan returned to the U.K. with their family for an extended stay.
The high-flying stunt came just a day after Harry wrapped a whirlwind visit to New York City, where he made a surprise appearance at Goals House and joined a panel focused on supporting young people in the workplace and their mental health. The Duke of Sussex also attended the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting during his brief trip to the city before heading north to Toronto for the charity jump.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
