The veteran and former defence minister spoke to GB News from the Invictus Games event in Birmingham
Al Carns has told GB News that he resigned as a defence minister "on a matter of principle, not reward", ahead of Sir Keir Starmer's departure as Prime Minister, leaving the door open to a potential Government return.
Speaking to Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker at the Invictus Games event in Birmingham, Mr Carns refused to rule out a possible return under Downing Street hopeful Andy Burnham.
Asked whether he would consider a return to Government under Andy Burnham to further support the veterans, Mr Carns told GB News he made the decision as a "matter of principle".
He said: "I resigned on a matter of principle, not for a reward, and one of those reasons was to do with veterans in particular.
"I'll continue to champion them from the backbenches. It's down to Andy to decide about his team and who he wants in and around the system.
"But I'm pretty sure that there'll be a great team and we'll move forward in the right direction."
Pressed a second time on whether he would consider a role within Mr Burnham's Government, Mr Carns admitted: "Well, you never know. You never know.
"You know, we're in politics today, see what happens in the future."
Discussing his work on the Invictus Games, Mr Carns reflected on his own service as a veteran and how he is continuing to support Prince Harry with the games in the UK.
He told GB News: "I served for 24 years, and two years ago, I came here to open the announcement that Birmingham was going to host the games, and then two years on, we're here and we'll be here again with the full games.
"I think it's over 20 countries now involved, it's going to be fantastic. And remember, for a lot of the veterans here, they started their journey injured in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"They ended up in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, amazing staff there put their lives back together, and now, 10, 15 years later, they're back as athletes performing in the games, it's a great story."
Highlighting the importance of Government support for veterans, Mr Carns declared that the "least we can do" as a Government is "serve veterans after their service".
He said: "This is all about veterans serve their countries, the least we can do is serve them after service.
"We've done some fantastic things in Government, the Valour program, biggest increase in funding to veterans in a generation, and it's moving in the right direction. Lots to go and more to do, but we've made a fantastic start getting there."
Expressing his continued support for Prince Harry amid his recent High Court defeat, Mr Carns made clear that having the royal in the UK is "fantastic".
Mr Carns said: "Irrelevant of what's going on in the news or elsewhere, remember, Prince Harry is a veteran that served our country with pride, honour, courage and determination.
"And so having him here to open the games is absolutely fantastic, and I support him 100 per cent."
Speaking at the Invictus Games One Year To Go ceremony, Prince Harry declared that the Invictus cause has "never just been about belonging to a team".
He said: "It's about belonging to each other. We are a family. One that I am so proud and so honoured to be a part of."
