Prince Harry gave an emotional speech on Saturday at the closing of the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, in front of a room full of enthusiastic veterans, where Meghan was also present. He began his speech in German and quickly continued in English.
“This week is much more than a sporting event. […] I’m sure you’re all physically exhausted, who wouldn’t be? But I also hope that you are mentally stronger than when you arrived.”
Prince Harry, very comfortable in front of this dedicated audience, thanked the participants in the sports competition. “You opened people’s hearts with your vulnerability, your resilience and your skills. You showed us that joy can come from hardship. And for that, we will be eternally grateful.”
“An example for all of us”
“Many of you and your loved ones have been through the most difficult situations imaginable. But the way you have healed and matured is an example to all of us.”
“You don’t need to rely on a uniform and you should never feel lost without one,” he said, echoing his own case. In fact, Harry was stripped of his military titles when he left the royal family to cease being an active member.
At the funeral of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, he was only allowed to wear a uniform once, despite having served ten years in the army.
Then, very excited, he greeted Corporal James Gendron, member of the Canadian team, organizer of the upcoming games and piper.
Sixty-three coffins
“While we were talking, I noticed some bagpipes lying on the floor in the corner,” Prince Harry said.
“Some people know what the bagpipes mean to me, and I was hoping he would play them. When 30 minutes later James offered to play them, I had no idea what they meant to him. No more than I knew what memories they brought back.” “In Afghanistan, he played 63 times in front of 63 coffins, for 63 souls, for 63 families.”
The prince has finally made an appointment in 2025, for the next edition of the Invictus Games, which will be held in Vancouver.
These games, which were held for the first time in 2014 in London and were inspired by the Paralympic Games, were born at the prince’s initiative. Harry also made a documentary produced by Netflix, titled Invictus Games: Resilience Medals.
Source: BFM TV
