Award honours Prince Harry’s charity work for injured soldiers

The 27-year-old is being recognised for his efforts championing Forces charities like Walking With The Wounded, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and Help For Heroes.

Harry will fly to the US capital, Washington, next month to receive the honour from the Atlantic Council, a body which promotes transatlantic co-operation and international security.

St James’s Palace said in a statement: “Prince Harry will use the award to pay tribute to British and American veterans’ charities for their achievements in helping to rehabilitate wounded servicemen and women and to reintegrate those who have served in the Armed Forces into civilian life.”

Harry has chosen to accept the Atlantic Council’s 2012 award for distinguished humanitarian leadership on behalf of himself and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, as William is also a committed supporter of Britain’s Armed Forces, and through their Foundation both Princes tackle the issue of caring for disabled and wounded servicemen and women.

Both William and Harry have made numerous public and private visits to Headley Court in Surrey – home to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, which treats the most seriously injured servicemen and women.

Harry, a serving Army captain, highlighted the efforts of wounded soldiers who challenge their disabilities when he joined a group of injured servicemen for a number of days last year as they marched to the North Pole supported by Walking with the Wounded.

He is patron of the charity’s latest expedition to put a group of disabled soldiers on the summit of Everest.