09 September 2023 , 21:15
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Prince Harry today faced an angry demonstration against him and the Invictus Games - including from one protester repeatedly shouting "Bomber Harry".
Reinhold Boehmer, 68, was among protesters standing behind a barrier shouting and waving just yards away from the Prince when he stepped out of a car at Dusseldorf City Hall at 2.50pm. He was also holding a homemade sign reading "Bomber Harry".
Speaking about Harry, who caused outrage when he revealed he had personally killed 25 Taliban fighters, he said: “Harry is a representative of the British establishment that has waged war without any legal reason.
"They are responsible for them being injured and now are celebrating this. I think the Invictus Games should be cancelled.” He added: “The sign is a pun on bomber Harris, the guy who bombed Nazi Germany."
A sign held up reading "Bomber Harry" (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Armed police and protection officers watched on as around 50 other protesters waved placards among a mostly Harry supporting crowd. Other placards included: “We died and the Rich make profit” and “I am against your war”.
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Organiser Lukas Baumer, 26, said: “We are not against the soldiers or athletes. We don’t think the Games should exist because it is normalising war and war is not a normal thing. And because it is being sponsored by organisations like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, who are weapons makers.
Anti-war protestors in Dusseldorf (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)“It is a little bit weird they are sponsoring these games because soldiers are injured by their weapons. They are making money from war.” Lukas, who is from Düsseldorf and works as a social worker, added: “Most people here don’t know what these Games are. They are confused.”
Dusseldorf dairy farmer Ulrich Maer, 70, was holding a sign saying: “Now victims, but in the war perpetrators”. He said: “Harry is a murderer I think. He said he killed 25 Taliban. This protest is against the German government and the Invictus Games. They shouldn’t be happening.”
Yesterday, Harry attended a vigil at the late Queen's resting place on the first anniversary of her death. He was pictured looking emotional as he emerged from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and reportedly spent time alone to commemorate his deceased grandmother and grandfather.
Some people in the crowd feel that the Invictus Games should be cancelled (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)After his vigil, Harry flew from Heathrow to Germany and checked into the €1,600-a-night Presidential suite at the Hyatt Regency hotel. He opened the Invictus Games today, where he began his speech in German, welcoming everybody to the event before switching back to English and talking about military uniform.
He said: "Remember that feeling of pride and honour when you first wore your nation's flag on your uniform? Most of us perhaps remember more its final outing? Or the time we hung it up for good?
"Am I right in saying for some, it represented a cape? Perhaps a shield or an escape? For others, an opportunity at recognition or a calling. No matter what it meant to you then, or your reasons for signing up, it was always about being of service to others and to your mates. He continued: "Ultimately, you were part of a purpose bigger than yourself and that feeling felt good."