Prince Harry's Invictus Games show the 'asset' the British royal family lost: experts
Prince Harry is back in the U.K. to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, with a royal expert saying the event showcases the "best" of the Duke of Sussex.
Harry founded the Invictus Games, an international adaptive sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick military service members and veterans, in 2014. Harry served 10 years in the British Army, including two deployments to Afghanistan.
Meredith Constant, royal commentator, told Fox News Digital that Harry's Invictus Games only shows the royal family the "asset" they lost when Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals.
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"The Invictus Games highlight the best of Prince Harry and the assets the British royal family lost when the Sussexes exited working royal life," she began. "The Invictus Games have played a massive role in bringing veterans from all over the world together to heal and celebrate community, including Harry. He shared in his book, ‘Spare,’ the PTSD he experiences, so the Invictus Games have probably helped his own healing as well."
Constant went on to share that the Invictus Games show how much Harry actually does love his country.
"Invictus Games also show the love he has for his home country. The games are named after a poem by William Ernest Henley that most British people know, particularly the line 'I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul,'" she said.
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"Harry took control of his own fate when he and Meghan moved their family overseas. Harry continues charitable endeavors, like the Invictus Games, that take him to the U.K., because he loves it and loves his country. He does despite the overwhelming press coverage and scrutiny his visits inevitably bring," Constant continued.
Hilary Fordwich, British royal expert, told Fox News Digital that the Invictus Games are so special because they are purely from Harry's heart.
"What sets Invictus apart is that it is based on something so genuine, from his heart and his previous military experiences. H conceived the idea after watching the ’13 Warrior Games, then built Invictus into an international sporting movement for wounded, injured and sick prior service personnel directly linked to his own identity. Via the games, he has been able to inspire recovery, rehabilitation and to garner broader respect for those who have served," Fordwich said.
Fordwich said until Markle got involved in the event, it was an opportunity for Harry "to showcase his true heart."
"Watching his interactions with the athletes, particularly in the wheelchair rugby match, but also the families and support teams, one can see he has genuinely invested heart and soul into the cause. Birmingham ‘27 countdown is particularly significant since, with sponsors quitting, this is mission critical for his being about to sustain the event in the future," she concluded.
According to Richard Fitzwilliams, royal expert, there is "little doubt that Invictus is uniquely valuable."
"It helps veterans and serving soldiers with physical injuries and mental health conditions. Harry was behind a much-praised, though little-watched five-part series on Netflix which contained stories of the courageous men and women the Games help. Its 10th anniversary was rightly celebrated with a service at St Paul’s which Harry attended solo," Fitzwilliams said.
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The Invictus Games are held every two years and bring together competitors from countries around the world to compete in adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball, swimming, indoor rowing, cycling, athletics and archery.
More recent editions have also added winter sports like alpine skiing, snowboarding, skeleton and wheelchair curling. While medals are awarded, the focus is less on winning and more on rehabilitation, resilience and building community among veterans and active-duty service members recovering from physical injuries, illnesses or psychological trauma such as PTSD.
The Games have become one of the defining charitable initiatives of his public life, continuing even after he stepped back as a senior working royal. The next Invictus Games are scheduled to take place in Birmingham, England, in July 2027, marking the first time the event has returned to the U.K. since the inaugural Games in London in 2014.