Prince Harry has praised his former army Colour Sargeant for giving him "confidence" following the death of his mother.
The 32-year-old royal was just 12 years old when his mum, Princess Diana, tragically died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, and he admitted his senior at Sandhurst military academy was instrumental in inspiring him to "push forward" with his life.
He said: "I was at a stage in my life when I was probably lacking a bit in guidance. I lost my mum when I was very young and suddenly I was surrounded by a huge number of men in the army.
"He was someone who teased me at the right moments and gave me the confidence to look forward, to actually have that confidence in yourself to know who you are and to push forward and try to help others."
Harry made the comments at a youth mentor training even in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, as part of The Diana Award, which was set up in tribute to his late mum.
The flame-haired royal met several inspirational youngsters at the event, including Jamie McIntosh, 17, who wrote a book aimed at teenagers who are trying to deal with grief following the passing of his mother to breast cancer.
Harry said: "That’s what’s it all about, it’s trying to stop other kids in your position having to go through what you had to go through and now your book is going to help everyone around you.
"If anybody around me ever has any grief, especially close family, you feel as though you can help because you’ve got the experience and that’s what mentoring is all about."
Prince Harry’s Colour Sargeant praise
