Harry reveals he and Meghan were 'shocked to core' by mental health stories of veterans

The 33-year-old said: "Some of the stories Meghan and I heard when we visited Colchester Garrison a few weeks ago shocked us to our core" as he made a speech at the Veterans’ Mental Health Conference at Kings College.

Speaking about his work with charity Heads Together and what more needs to be done he told delegates he had seen those who have "served with suffer".

During a speech at King's College London's Strand Campus, he said: "I have seen those I have served with suffer, struggling to seek out the help they desperately need. And we know there are more just like them who continue to suffer in silence.

"And when the individual doesn't or can't reach out for help, it is also their families who suffer, especially their spouses and children, who are left feeling desperate and confused as they try to seek appropriate help for the ones they love.

"Some of the stories Meghan and I heard when we visited Colchester Garrison a few weeks ago shocked us to our core.

"But despite meeting these people and others who are in the darkest of places, I am continually surrounded and inspired by amazingly positive outcomes."

Prince Harry has long campaigned against the stigma of mental illness for the Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence and the Royal Foundation, the charitable trust set up by Harry and his brother William and Kate, announced a joint initiative last year to put tackling mental health at the forefront of armed forces personnel training.

Last year, Harry made a personal plea for military personnell with mental health issues to try and talk about their problems.

He said: “It is incredibly difficult to talk about mental health in the armed forces. It is still a very difficult conversation.

"As a military person, once you put that uniform on during your training, you are taught to be invincible and not to let anybody down.

"However, a lot of individuals prefer turning to alcohol rather than a friend."