A charity closely linked to Prince Harry has spoken out to defend the value and sacrifice of coalition troops — including British forces — after US President Donald Trump’s remarks appeared to cause distress among bereaved military families.
The founder of Scotty’s Little Soldiers issued a video message after President Trump suggested some Nato allies stayed away from the front line in Afghanistan.
Nikki Scott, a British Army widow, said the comments made “over the past 24 hours” had been “deeply upsetting for many”, particularly families affected by the deaths of British personnel linked to Afghanistan.
The intervention is notable because of Scotty’s close link to Prince Harry, who serves as the charity’s Global Ambassador.
In June 2024, the Duke of Sussex sat down with Mrs Scott in a filmed discussion about bereavement and the moment she told her son that his father had been killed.
In her new video, Mrs Scott stressed that those who matter “absolutely understand the sacrifices and the difference made by our armed forces supporting the Americans in the conflict”.
Mrs Scott’s husband, Corporal Lee Scott, was killed in Afghanistan while serving with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.
In her message, she held up a small black book returned with his belongings and described the briefing notes he had written during the deployment.
At the end, she said, he wrote a line: “We will make life better”. Mrs Scott told supporters that her husband believed in the work he was doing and that she believes in the difference he and other service personnel made, “and no one should tell us otherwise.”
The charity has spent the past 15 years supporting bereaved British forces children and young people and their families.
Mrs Scott also revealed plans to widen the charity’s support later this year to “all those affected by military-connected bereavement in the UK”, though she said it was not ready to launch that work yet.
She invited anyone affected by the latest remarks to contact the charity directly, adding: “You are not alone. You’re part of our community.”
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A message from Scotty’s Founder and British Army widow Nikki Scott following recent remarks about the involvement of NATO troops in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/Ku9V8nbHI2
— Scotty’s L Soldiers (@CorporalScotty) January 23, 2026
The video landed after President Trump was criticised for comments made in a Fox News interview in Davos in which he suggested Nato allies stayed “a little off the frontlines” in Afghanistan and questioned whether the alliance would come to the US if it ever needed help.
UK figures across politics hit back at the claim, pointing to the scale of British and allied losses during the 20-year mission.
Downing Street said President Trump was “wrong to diminish the role of Nato troops” during two decades of war and highlighted that 457 British personnel were killed in Afghanistan.
Sir Keir Starmer additionally called the remarks “insulting and frankly appalling” and urged an apology.
Prince Harry served in Afghanistan during his military career, completing two operational tours.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers has previously said Harry is closely involved in its work with bereaved military children and young people.
As of Friday, there has been no public statement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex responding directly to President Trump’s Nato comments.
GB News has contacted Harry’s representatives for comment.
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