An amputee Prince Harry once labelled a “hero” has claimed the Duke of Sussex is wrong to suggest the media failed to shine a light on veterans who served in Afghanistan.
Harry’s five-part documentary series, Heart of Invictus, dropped on Netflix this week and features former military servicemen on their road to the competition.
The royal set up the Paralympic-style sporting contest for injured and sick military personnel and veterans in 2014.
Royal Marine Commando Ben McBean, 36, who lost an arm and a leg after stepping on a Taliban landmine, is puzzled by one of Harry’s comments made during the documentary.
Harry said in part one of the series: “Stepping off the plane I was angry at what happened to these guys — I was angry that the media weren’t covering it. But at that point it wasn’t clear to me what needed to be done.”
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Commando McBean disputes Harry’s claim.
He told The Sun: “I have had his back for 15 years. I’ve always championed him but it doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything that comes out of his mouth. On this one the Duke of Sussex is wrong.
“My mum, dad and uncle have met him and William. I think Harry is cool but I am a 36-year-old man and I don’t agree with him.
“The papers and the media explained why the war was on and why you were going to see amputees walking in your local city.”
It was thought that McBean would succumb to his injuries as he flew back from the battlefield on a plane with Prince Harry on board, but he miraculously survived.
The Duke said at the time: “Those are the heroes. Guys who had been blown up by a mine – serving their country doing a normal patrol.
The veteran is not the only one to question Harry.
Multiple journalists and media organisations have pointed to the fact that they were covering the war and raising money for veterans including injured soldiers.
Kate Mansey, The Mail on Sunday’s assistant editor, told Talk TV: “I would take issue with the fact that [Harry claimed] the media didn’t do anything to cover these stories having gone out [to Afghanistan] myself but also think of all the journalists who went out there and lost their own lives to bring the stories of those troops back.
“A colleague of mine lost his life in Afghanistan. Another photojournalist I know came back as an amputee – the survivors of those attacks have dedicated their lives to telling those stories of the troops.
“I don’t want to detract from Harry’s huge success because I do think it’s such a marvellous cause but it does feel like a cheap pot-shot.”
The Sun says that the campaign helped raise £370 million for the Help for Heroes charity which assists UK veterans.
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