The Queen has offered her sympathies to a family battling to get their war hero son’s name on a memorial after he took his own life.
The father of Nathan Hunt, who served in Afghanistan, said he was touched to receive the letter from Her Majesty, which said she hoped the couple “find the strength to sustain you at this difficult time”.
But the note added that the monarch cannot get involved in politics.
Nathan’s dad Derek yesterday shared the letter with the Sunday People and said: “I think that the Queen would like to help but her hands have been tied.”
Derek and his wife Maria had turned to Her Majesty in their latest bid to have their son’s name added to the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Arboretum.
Nathan was a serving Royal Engineers warrant officer when took his own life in January 2018, aged 39.
But defence chiefs refused to add his name to the memorial after ruling his death was probably not linked to his 23 years of military service.
Three other soldiers who took their own lives after serving in Afghanistan have been honoured on the Staffordshire memorial.
Nathan served alongside the Queen’s grandson Prince Harry in 2008.
During a six-month tour, he cleared Taliban bombs and was praised for saving several comrades, including Harry.
Last year, ex-soldier Derek, 70, and Maria, 68, from Lincoln, wrote to Harry – who replied expressing his dismay at not being able to help, having lost his military titles.
The recent letter sent to Derek and Maria from a royal aide said: “The Queen hopes you and your wife will continue to find the strength to sustain you at this difficult time.”
Derek said: “I firmly believe Nathan took his own life because of the traumas he suffered in Afghanistan. He was mentally wounded. He was a casualty of war and should be recognised as such.”
A report produced after Nathan died said he had experienced “traumatic exposure” in Afghanistan and had “elements of PTSD”.
The MoD said: “Careful consideration is given to each case and the decision not to include WO Hunt’s name on the Armed Forces Memorial does not detract from his service in the Army.”
