Prince Harry made his first public appearance since giving historic testimony against a British tabloid publisher, showing his support for veterans at the Warrior Games in San Diego.
Launched by the Department of Defense in 2010, the annual adaptive sports competition is dedicated to uplifting and supporting ill, injured active-duty service members, and veterans.
Much to the delight of those in attendance, the Duke of Sussex graced the event with his presence. The Warrior Games shared images on Twitter of Prince Harry mingling with the athletes and their families. He also attended the Sitting Volleyball Finals, marking the close of the 2023 Warrior Games.
The Prince has acknowledged the Warrior Games as the catalyst for his Invictus Games, an international contest for wounded military men and women. The next Invictus Games, which began in London in 2014, are slated to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany, come September. Harry, who served in the British Army for ten years and undertook two tours in Afghanistan, has openly spoken about how attending the Warrior Games sparked an impassioned drive within him. He believes deeply in the transformative power of sports in inspiring recovery and fostering a life beyond disability.
Video footage from the event shows Prince Harry engaging in animated conversations with fellow spectators during the Army vs. Marine Corps bronze medal match. He also took a moment to snap a photo with the gold medal-winning United States Special Operations Command sitting volleyball team.
The Warrior Games began on June 2 at the Naval Air Station North Island, a stone’s throw away from Prince Harry’s residence in Montecito, California, where he lives with Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
