These are emotional days that are now coming to an end: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan celebrated the end of the Invictus Games. A ceremony where there was hardly a dry eye in the room – and in which Meghan played no role.
Prince Harry, 39, heart is full! In the past seven days, over 500 disabled soldiers from 21 nations took part in the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf and competed in a competition that is second to none. How emotional the last week was for the Royal in Germany becomes clear in his moving final speech, which Harry gave, visibly moved, in the Merkur Spiel-Arena on Saturday evening, September 16, 2023.
Invictus Games come to an emotional end
After the 39-year-old greets the audience in German and with a cheerful grin, he concentrates on the events of the last few days. “As you have seen and experienced, this week is so much more than a sporting event. It is a platform for positive change. The wave of respect is felt far and wide, and we hope you feel it deeply too,” says Prince Harry added: “We may have provided the platform, but you provided the magic. And never forget that. We have all witnessed the impact sport has had on your recovery and post-traumatic growth. But you never will truly know the impact your actions this week have had on millions of people around the world. You have opened people’s hearts through your vulnerability, through your resilience and through your sheer ability.”
You showed us that joy can come from struggle, and for that we are eternally grateful.
During his speech, Prince Harry also spoke about an emotional encounter. “Yesterday I met with Lance Corporal James Gendron of Team Canada in the Invictus 2025 tent. As we were talking, I noticed bagpipes lying on the floor in the far corner. Some of you may know what bagpipes mean to me, and “So I couldn’t help but hope they would be played!” says Harry, alluding to his grandparents’ love of the instrument.
He then reveals: “I had no idea that thirty minutes later James would pick up the bagpipes and offer me to play them – even though I had no idea what it meant to him. I didn’t know what memories either they triggered in him. In Afghanistan, he played in 63 induction ceremonies. For 63 coffins. For 63 souls. For 63 families. For four years, after the last ceremony, he couldn’t touch them. This week he wasn’t sure if he could even bring himself to play it. But he did.” A story that moves the prince to tears.
At the end of his speech, King Charles’s youngest son, 74, gave a euphoric outlook on the next two years: “Next year – we have a lot ahead of us. The 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games Foundation – yes, 10 years! And then Let’s move on to Vancouver Whistler 2025…You’ve set the bar high here – let’s see how much higher we can go!”
Meghan plays no role in Prince Harry’s speech
Striking: During his eight-minute speech, Prince Harry doesn’t mention his wife Duchess Meghan, 42, in a single syllable, doesn’t mention her name, thank her for her or emphasize how much the former actress also enjoyed the games. Meghan is also silent during the celebrations. At the opening ceremony, however, the royal spoke about his sweetheart and joked that they would be even more in competition this year as his wife found out that she is 43 percent Nigerian and Nigeria is going to the Invictus for the first time this year Games took part.