Prince Harry
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With this in mind, he has helped facilitate a dream trip to the U.S. for a young British marine who lost both his legs in a blast in Afghanistan.
Commando Joe Townsend, 21, was horrifically injured when he stepped on an anti-tank mine in Helmand province last year. Harry, 24, was serving in the same region (though they were not together) at the time.
While they are not traveling together to Manhattan, the pair will meet up privately during the prince's two-day stay. The veteran will join the prince on a tour of the facilities of a post-traumatic stress disorder treatment clinic at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan.
The original idea came from New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon, who approached royal staff and said he would pay for the trip. Harry – having heard of what he went through – nominated war hero Townsend.
A St. James's Palace spokesman tells PEOPLE that Harry was "absolutely delighted" to be able to invite Townsend. He says, "Prince Harry has long been a supporter of efforts to support the work and sacrifice of so many British servicemen and women. The prince is enormously grateful to Fred Wilpon for his generosity in making Joe's trip possible."
Joe Townsend
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