Prince Harry was, naturally, the most seen British royal at the Invictus Games, posing with athletes and giving powerful speeches about courage and country at every turn. It’s not a surprise that Prince Harry would be so dedicated to the event, considering he was the one who launched it. However, his love for the Invictus Games team has gone on long past the final event this year.
Prince Harry will revive that popular spirit of camaraderie and national achievement at the Pride of Britain awards Monday evening, where he will give a speech honoring the British Armed Forces Team as they receive an award for Special Recognition, reported Hello! Magazine. After all, what inspires more national fervor than British athletes beating out other countries at a sports competition put on by Prince Harry?
Prince Harry is reportedly thrilled to be giving the awards to the 103 members of the British Armed Forces Team. He has prepared a speech that The Mirror reports will see Prince Harry being especially humbled before the Invictus Games team , saying that he finds their strength unimaginable.
“The Invictus games shone a spotlight on the incomparable character of servicemen and women and their families. Their stories move, inspire and humble me. They are as amazing as they are unique and I am absolutely delighted that the team is receiving this Pride of Britain Award… To fight for your country takes courage but to move beyond life changing injuries takes an extraordinary level of grit and determination. I can only begin to imagine how challenging the journey of recovery is, but the admiration I have for these men and women is limitless.”
Prince Harry has been a part of the British Armed Forces since 2005. He served a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2012, which was especially daring considering the attention the Taliban focused on killing him once they knew Prince Harry was within range. Many of the participants in the Invictus Games this year became disabled due to injuries from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Prince Harry expressed a connection to their plight when he first announced he would be starting the Invictus Games in a Sunday Times editorial.
“Loss of life is as tragic and devastating as it gets, but to see young lads – much younger than me – wrapped in plastic and missing limbs, with hundreds of tubes coming out of them, was something I never prepared myself for… Many of us who have been on operations can close our eyes at any point now and hundreds of images will flash through our minds, a visual diary of our experiences.”
For a preview of what Prince Harry will sound like when he gives the Invictus Games’ British Armed Forces Team their award at the Pride of Britain, you can watch his closing remarks from the games a few weeks ago.
[Images via Flickr]
