Prince Harry Jumps Out of a Plane After Making a Promise to a 102-Year-Old WWII Veteran — The Heartwarming Story Behind His Daring Skydive

Prince Harry has fulfilled an extraordinary promise to a 102-year-old Second World War veteran, taking part in a charity skydive nearly a year after an unexpected conversation brought the two former soldiers together.

The Duke of Sussex agreed to the challenge after meeting Ed Marshall, a former paratrooper who served with the Allied forces during World War II, at Canada’s Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.

What began as a lighthearted exchange about Marshall’s remarkable skydiving experience soon developed into a genuine friendship.

And although the centenarian was ultimately unable to make the jump himself, he was determined to witness Harry keeping his word.

A newly released video from the Sunnybrook Foundation captures the emotional and humorous moments surrounding the special event.

A Remarkable Meeting With a 102-Year-Old War Veteran

The story began when Prince Harry visited the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Canada, the country’s largest veterans’ care facility.

During his visit, he met Ed Marshall, a Second World War veteran who had trained as a paratrooper.

Despite his extraordinary age, Marshall had already demonstrated an adventurous spirit.

At 100 years old, he completed a charity skydive to raise money for a good cause.

When Marshall showed Harry photographs of the remarkable achievement, the Prince was impressed.

The two men began discussing the possibility of jumping together.

Harry, who served in the British Army for ten years and completed tours of Afghanistan, shared a military connection with the older veteran.

Their conversation eventually turned into a promise.

Harry agreed to take part in another charity skydive alongside Marshall.

It was an unusual challenge, but one that the Prince would later honour.

A Medical Setback Threatens Their Skydiving Plans

As preparations for the charity jump progressed, Marshall faced an unexpected obstacle.

A medical evaluation determined that the 102-year-old veteran could not safely participate in the skydive.

The news meant he would be unable to complete the jump he had originally planned with Harry.

However, his family found a meaningful way to ensure the event could still go ahead.

Marshall’s grandson, Bailey Fullan, volunteered to take his grandfather’s place.

The arrangement allowed the family to honour the original promise while ensuring Marshall could remain involved.

Rather than watching from the ground, the veteran accompanied the group aboard the aircraft.

From there, he was able to encourage the participants before they made their leap.

His presence transformed the event into a special family moment.

Prince Harry Takes the Leap on September 25

Nearly a year after the original conversation, the promise became reality on September 25.

Harry joined Bailey Fullan and other participants for the charity skydive.

Also taking part were Jeremy Blair, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, and Dr. Andy Smith, Sunnybrook’s president and CEO.

Marshall travelled with the group in the aircraft, offering encouragement before the jump.

Video footage released by the Sunnybrook Foundation showed the participants preparing for their descent.

The group then jumped from the propeller plane, completing the challenge that had begun with Marshall’s photographs.

After landing, the participants embraced and celebrated the experience.

For Harry, it was more than an adventurous outing.

It was an opportunity to honour a fellow veteran and support organisations dedicated to military personnel and their families.

Prince Harry Jokes About Making Bets With Centenarians

Following the successful jump, Harry thanked everyone who had helped organise the event.

He expressed particular gratitude to Marshall and his family.

“A huge, huge thanks to Sunnybrook for putting this whole event on, and the biggest thanks goes to Ed and his entire family for making this possible,” Harry said.

The Prince then reflected on the unusual circumstances that had led him to jump out of an aircraft.

With a smile, he joked that he might need to be more careful about accepting challenges in the future.

“I will be more cautious next time not to pay too much attention to a photograph that leads you to making a deal or a bet with a 102-year-old! Cheers Sunnybrook!”

The lighthearted remark highlighted the friendship that had developed between the two veterans.

It also provided a humorous ending to an experience that began with a simple conversation.

Ed Marshall’s Grandson Shares His Excitement

Bailey Fullan, who stepped in for his grandfather, described the skydive as an unforgettable experience.

He was particularly pleased to share the occasion with Harry.

“Amazing to be up there with the Prince – what a prince of a guy – it was a fantastic experience!” Bailey said.

He also emphasised the importance of the event’s charitable purpose.

“And such a great way to support our veterans, so I’m proud of that.”

For Bailey, the jump was an opportunity to represent his grandfather while helping raise awareness of the needs of military veterans.

The experience also ensured that Marshall’s original plan could be honoured despite the medical restrictions that prevented him from jumping.

A Special Connection Between Two Military Veterans

Harry’s involvement carried additional significance because of his own military background.

The Prince served in the British Army for a decade, including deployments to Afghanistan.

His experiences have shaped his longstanding involvement in initiatives supporting veterans and military families.

Marshall’s story represented a different generation of military service.

As a Second World War veteran who trained as a paratrooper, he belonged to a generation whose wartime experiences remain an important part of Allied history.

Despite the decades separating them, the two men found common ground through their shared military connection.

The friendship that developed from their meeting at Sunnybrook eventually inspired a charitable event bringing together veterans, family members and supporters.

Sunnybrook Foundation Celebrates a Promise Kept

In its announcement accompanying the video, the Sunnybrook Foundation explained how the unusual challenge developed.

The organisation recalled Harry’s visit to the Veterans Centre and Marshall’s story about completing a fundraising skydive at 100.

When Marshall could no longer participate because of medical concerns, his grandson stepped forward.

The foundation described the September 25 jump as the fulfilment of a promise made almost a year earlier.

“What began as a conversation between two Veterans became a promise kept,” the organisation said.

The skydive supported the Sunnybrook Foundation and True Patriot Love Foundation, two organisations serving Canada’s military and veteran communities.

For Sunnybrook, the event was also an opportunity to celebrate Marshall’s remarkable life and the friendship that had developed between him and Harry.

A Heartwarming Moment That Went Beyond the Skydive

Although the video features the dramatic sight of Prince Harry jumping from an aircraft, the story behind the footage is what makes the event especially meaningful.

A 102-year-old veteran’s photographs inspired a promise.

A medical setback changed the original plan.

And a grandson stepped forward to ensure his grandfather’s wishes could still be honoured.

Throughout it all, Marshall remained part of the experience, cheering on the participants from the plane.

The event brought together different generations of military veterans while supporting charitable organisations dedicated to their welfare.

For Prince Harry, the skydive was a promise worth keeping. For Ed Marshall, it became another remarkable chapter in a life already filled with extraordinary experiences. And for everyone involved, the September 25 jump demonstrated how a chance meeting between two veterans could grow into a friendship, a family memory and a meaningful act of support for the military community.