'Insulting and appalling': Britain hits back at Trump as Prince Harry and Starmer slam Afghanistan troop comments

Prince Harry issued a statement saying that "families are left carrying the cost" of the sacrifices made by troops who fought in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014.

He served two frontline tours as an Army Air Corps co-pilot gunner.

The President sparked anger from ex-servicemen and their families over his claim that British troops and NATO allies stayed off the frontline in Afghanistan.

In an interview with Fox News, Mr Trump said: "We've never needed them. They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines."

Read more: Mother of soldier injured in Afghanistan brands Trump's comments 'an absolute disgrace' as she calls on Starmer to demand apology

Read more: Fury over Trump’s claim Britain ‘stayed off front line’ in Afghanistan as Downing Street hits out at president's Nato remarks

Prince Harry said: “In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first—and only—time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call.

“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed.

“Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters.

“Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.

“Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.”

Mr Trump’s remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum in the UK, with critics pointing to both the number of UK deaths in Afghanistan and highlighting Mr Trump’s avoidance of military service in Vietnam.

The Prime Minister has called on Trump to apologise for his remarks about the conflict.

In a speech made earlier today, Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the 457 British personnel who died and those who were injured, and said: "I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country.

"There were many also who were injured, some with life-changing injuries.

"I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country."

Sir Keir added that he would apologise if he had said the words used by Trump.

The mother of former British paratrooper Ben Parkinson has branded Mr Trump’s claims an "absolute disgrace."

Speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty, Mr Parkinson's mother, Diane Dernie, has slammed the claims, saying they "get worse every time you hear them."

Mr Parkinson, 41, is widely regarded as the most severely injured British soldier to survive a tour of Afghanistan after his Army Land Rover hit a mine near Musa Qala in 2006.

He is currently recuperating after yet another operation - almost 20 years after he was injured.

Mrs Dernie told Shelagh: "The gut reaction is worse every time you hear it. Everything about his statements, the words he uses, the tone of voice that he uses, the utter dismissal of everything that our troops went through and sacrificed in Afghanistan.

"An absolute disgrace. Absolute disgrace."

She added: "There are 400 odd families who would dearly love to be in the position that we are.

"And our job for the last 19 and a half years has been fighting for Ben because of the sacrifice that he made and so many others like him in Afghanistan."