麻豆影视

Skip to main content

Prince Harry criticized by British military figures after claiming he killed 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan

Share

Prince Harry has drawn criticism from some security and military figures after claiming in his autobiography that he killed 25 Taliban fighters while serving for the British Army in Afghanistan.

Harry disclosed the figure in his upcoming autobiography "Spare," according to British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, which said it obtained a copy of the Spanish version of the book ahead of its official release slated for Tuesday, January 10.

"My number is 25. It's not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me," Harry reportedly writes. In another section, he is quoted as describing Taliban insurgents as "chess pieces" taken off the board, rather than people.

CNN has not seen a copy of the book but has requested an advance copy of the book from the publisher Penguin Random House. A number of U.K. media outlets obtained Spanish-language copies on Thursday, and quoted translated excerpts.

The prince's comments prompted a sharp backlash from members of the military community, with leading figures saying they could jeopardize his safety and give the British Army a bad reputation.

The U.K.'s former national security adviser Kim Darroch, who was the British Ambassador to the United States from 2016 to 2019, told Sky News he would have advised Harry against making the statements. And Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired British army officer, told the same network they "tarnished" his reputation and "unjustly" painted the British Army in a negative light.

"His suggestion that he killed 25 people will have re-incited those people who wish him harm," Kemp said. "Let's hope they don't succeed and I'm sure he's got pretty good security, but that's one problem.

"The other problem I found with his comments was that he characterized the British Army basically as having trained him and other soldiers to see his enemy as less than human, just as chess pieces on a board to be swiped off, which is not the case. It's the opposite of the case," he added.

Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years. He completed two tours of Afghanistan, one spanning 2007 to 2008 and the other from 2012 to 2013. He achieved the rank of captain in 2011 and qualified as an Apache Aircraft commander. Captain Harry Wales, as he was known in the Army, retired from the service in 2015.

During his time serving with the British Army in Afghanistan, Harry said, he used to watch back footage of each "kill" from the nose-mounted camera on his Apache helicopter after returning to base, the Telegraph reported.

Former Royal Marine Ben McBean, whom Harry served alongside in Afghanistan, also wrote on Twitter on Thursday: "Love you #PrinceHarry but you need to shut up! Makes you wonder the people he's hanging around with. If it was good people somebody by now would have told him to stop."

It is unclear whether McBean was referring specifically to Harry's comments on his time in the military, or more generally to a slew of other revelations in Harry's memoir that have sparked turmoil for Britain's royal family.

Early reporting about the book's contents has dominated front pages in the UK and threaten another headache for Harry's father, King Charles III, and his brother, Prince William.

Perhaps the most dramatic revelation to emerge was the claim that William physically attacked Harry during an altercation in 2019, first reported by The Guardian.

CNN's Niamh Kennedy and Ivana Kottasova contributed to this report.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.