Prince Harry talks about the ‘healing power of sport’ in an emotional new video ahead of next year’s Invictus Games.
The Duke of Sussex posted the message this afternoon on the official account for the 2025 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, on X, formerly Twitter.
He told viewers: ‘Sport can heal, change lives and save lives.’
Harry is patron of the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014 as an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel.
Both military personnel and veterans are encouraged to participate in combat as part of their recovery process.
Prince Harry opened up about the ‘healing power of sport’ in a new video ahead of next year’s Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada
The video promoting next year’s Games features a compilation of past participants
Prince Harry and his then girlfriend and current wife Meghan are seen here competing in wheelchair tennis at the 2017 Invictus Games, also in Canada but in Toronto
Harry added in his speech in the 117-second video: ‘For many of these participants, reaching the starting line was one of the hardest moments of their lives.
“But at the Games, their lives change. It’s very, very special to see these magical moments happen, and for sport to be the facilitator, for all of us.”
Earlier this summer, the Prince praised the wounded, injured and sick members of the British Army and the veterans who will make up the 64-strong squad, which includes 60 participants and four reservists.
They were named Team UK for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler, to be held in February next year.
Prince Harry said in July: ‘Congratulations to those selected for Team UK for our first ever Winter Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler next February.
‘Team UK will join over 500 competitors from 20 countries in this ground-breaking event, which will increase the reach and profile of winter sports.
‘These games provide a great opportunity for our brave service members and veterans to showcase their skills in new challenges such as alpine skiing, snowboarding and skeleton, while also providing their families with an unforgettable experience.
“We are excited to see their passion, determination and resilience on full display as they embark on this new chapter.”
The Duke of Sussex is patron of the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014
The moving new video posted today on the official X account for the 2025 Invictus Games features competitors from past tournaments and their families
The Duke of Sussex slides around the track on a skeleton sled during a training camp for the Invictus Games Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, slides around the track on a skeleton sled during a training camp for the Invictus Games in February
That same month, at the glittering ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, Harry was honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his work with the Invictus Games.
Tillman, an American football star who gave up a £3million contract to join the US Army after 9/11, saw his life tragically cut short at the age of 27 when he was killed by friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan 20 years ago.
The prince, who was attended by his wife Meghan Markle, spoke in his acceptance speech of the “eternal bond” between mother and son – a nod to Mary Tillman and Princess Diana.
Harry faced calls to reject the award, which is usually given to unknown veterans, with more than 76,000 people signing a petition demanding the decision be reversed.
Tillman’s mother Mary said she was not consulted about Prince Harry receiving the award named after her son. She told the Mail ahead of the event: ‘I’m shocked that they’ve selected such a controversial and divisive person to receive the award.
“There are recipients that are much more appropriate. There are people who work in the veteran community who are doing great things to help veterans.
“These people don’t have the money, the resources, the connections or the privileges that Prince Harry has. I think these people need to be recognised.”
Next year’s Invictus Games in Vancouver will be the first Invictus Games to include winter sports.
The Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle are seen here as spectators at the 2023 Invictus Games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in the German city of Düsseldorf
Prince Harry, pictured with his wife Meghan, has said he is excited to see the ‘passion, determination and resilience’ of the British squad for the first Invictus Games to feature winter sports
Prince Harry at the Invictus Games One Year To Go event in February in Whistler, Canada
Meghan Markle beamed with pride as Prince Harry accepted a prestigious military award at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles in July this year
Great Britain team captain Stephen ‘Hoops’ Hooper returns for his second Invictus Games, having competed in powerlifting and sitting volleyball in Düsseldorf in 2023.
Hooper, who served in the RAF and was diagnosed with PTSD before being medically discharged in 2021, said: “Being selected for Team UK again was overwhelming in itself, but to also be captain is a privilege.
‘I’ve learned a lot from the whole Team UK experience last time. I’ve gone from standing in the corner of a room and not talking to anyone to finding my own voice again.
‘And that’s what I want to do for others this time: make sure that all members of Team UK come together and take steps in their recovery.’