Prince Harry has called for unity and resilience as he officially opened the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada, alongside his wife, Meghan Markle.
Addressing thousands of spectators and competitors, the Duke of Sussex urged participants to rise above global divisions and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, is a multi-sport event for wounded and injured military veterans.
This year’s edition marks a milestone, introducing winter sports for the first time, with over 500 athletes from around the world competing in 11 events.
During his speech, Prince Harry reflected on the impact of the Games, stating:
“Over the past decade, I’ve lost count of the times we’ve heard you tell us that the Invictus Games saved you. Respectfully, I disagree. Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself.”
He also honored Canada’s Indigenous First Nations people for hosting the event and emphasized the values of mutual respect, resilience, and camaraderie that define the Games.
The event featured spectacular performances from global music icons, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Nelly Furtado, and Katy Perry, who closed the show with her hit song Roar.
Coldplay’s frontman performed the Invictus Anthem, a song he penned in 2014, while Nelly Furtado invited the dance crew ILL-Abilities on stage for an electrifying performance of I’m Like a Bird.
Meanwhile, the couple’s public appearance came just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial remarks about Prince Harry and Meghan in an interview with the New York Post.
When asked about Prince Harry’s U.S. visa status—an issue raised by conservative activists due to his past drug use—Trump dismissed the idea of deporting him, saying:
“I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
Trump, who has previously clashed with Meghan Markle, also praised Prince William, calling him “a great young man”.
Prince Harry was inspired to create the Invictus Games after witnessing the 2013 Warrior Games in the U.S., where wounded service members competed.
Since its inception, the Games have been held in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The 2025 edition in Vancouver is particularly significant as it reaffirms the commitment to empowering injured veterans through sports, proving that their stories are not defined by their injuries but by their determination to overcome them.
As the competition unfolds over the next nine days, the world will watch these inspiring athletes push their limits, reminding everyone that true victory lies in perseverance, courage, and the unbreakable human spirit.
bbc.com
