War is the great equalizer. Whether you’re Joe the Plumber or Prince Harry, military service means risking exposure to traumatic experiences.

Prince Harry knows that silver spoons don’t mean squat when you’re in a firefight or driving on a road riddled with hidden IEDs. While promoting the upcoming Invictus Games, the royal revealed to Sky News that he had experienced plenty of his own “dark moments” during his military career that haunt him.

Harry rightfully clarifies that he hasn’t seen or experienced the worst war has to offer, but he what he has witnessed allows him to better empathize with the wounded warriors participating in the Invictus Games.

You know, I described it to someone ages ago as one of those slide shows that go through your mind.

If you’ve got a good imagination as well, everything that you see, especially if it’s something that is quite powerful, then that slide is in there.

It’s always in there and if you have dark moments in your life those slides will pop up.

You know there are images I’ve been lucky enough not to see, but there have been images that I’ve been unfortunate to see, nothing like some of these guys, but yes there is a percentage of me being able to relate to exactly what they go through.

The Invictus Games is an international Paralympic event that ushers wounded warriors straight into the spotlight. Harry founded the event after ten years of full-time service in the British Army in order to celebrate the strength and resilience of military veterans. The first Invictus Games took place in 2014. The 2016 games will kick off on May 8th in Orlando, Florida.