Prince Harry is concerned that a Mail on Sunday article (opens in new tab) claiming that he has abandoned the British Armed Forces since leaving senior royalty could have a "devastating effect" on servicemen and veterans and "leave them prone to suicide".

In legal documents filed as part of a defamation lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Mail on Sunday, the Duke of Sussex's lawyer said that, as reported by Newsweek (opens in new tab), the article's military could affect his "credibility" among them and thus "seriously hamper" his efforts to promote mental health services, he said.

In October, the Mail on Sunday published an article claiming that Harry has been out of contact with the Royal Marines since stepping down as senior royalty and relinquishing his role as an honorary general. The article further claimed that Harry had rubbished Lord Dannatt, the former head of the Army, and ignored his letter asking for greater support for the British military community.

In a legal alert sent a few days later, Harry's lawyer at Schillings law firm in London called the article "false and defamatory," and a source told Vanity Fair that Harry had not received Sir Dannatt's letter and subsequently requested that it be forwarded to his staff in the United States He told the magazine.

In the latest legal document seen by Newsweek, Harry's lawyer said the article was "largely unexamined and one-sided," adding that Harry's representatives were unable to respond to the claims because it was published less than three hours after they were asked for comment. It adds.

Documents filed with the court state that Harry's "sincere desire is to continue to use the reputation and platform he has gained as a result of his military service to assist current and former military personnel." It continues, "This role is substantially dependent on (Prince Harry) using his reputation to support such a cause by garnering public support."

"Publication of the allegations complained of would severely hamper Prince Harry's ability to do so and, as a result, would adversely affect the very people he is trying to help.

"[Prince Harry] in particular has used his reputation to assist and encourage current and former military personnel to seek help for mental health issues," says Harry's lawyer. The publications complained of "will diminish [Prince Harry's] credibility in the eyes of such servicemen and thus reduce the likelihood of them seeking the help that is being offered."

"[Prince Harry] is] reasonably afraid that this will have a devastating effect on such people, including making them more likely to commit suicide. reasonably fear."

In December, the Mail on Sunday (opens in new tab) retracted the article and published an apology to Prince Harry. (opens in new tab) "In an October 25, 2020 article, it was reported that Prince Harry had been accused by a leading general of turning his back on the Royal Marines since he retired from military service in March and, in an apparent snub to the military, had not replied to a letter from former Chief of Staff Lord Dannatt," the statement read (opens in new tab).

"We understand that Harry has been in contact and providing informal support in a private capacity to individuals in the military, including the Royal Marines, since March, and that he did not initially receive the letter from Lord Dannatt referred to in the article due to administrative issues, but replied after learning of it. We understand that you did not initially receive the letter from Sir Dannatt due to administrative issues, but replied to it after learning of it," the statement continued. 'We have apologized to Prince Harry and have made a donation to the Invictus Games Foundation.'