Prince Harry's poignant bagpipes tribute to injured veterans at Invictus Games

16 September 2023 , 20:19

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Harry and Meghan at the closing ceremony (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Prince Harry paid tribute to injured veterans at the Invictus Games last night and told them they have inspired millions.

Harry, 39, was speaking in front of thousands of fans on stage at the event’s closing ceremony in Dusseldorf, Germany. He said: “We’ve all witnessed the true impact sport has had on your recovery. But you will never truly know the impact your actions this week have had on millions of people around the world.

“You have opened people’s hearts, through your vulnerability, through your resilience and your sheer abilities. You have shown us that joy can emerge from struggle.”

Meghan, 42, watched on proudly from her seat as Harry also spoke of his love of bagpipes. And he told how the instrument this week helped a member of the Canadian team to begin to heal from the horrors of Afghanistan. Harry said: “Yesterday I met with Master Corporal James Gendron.

Harry paid tribute to injured veterans at the games (PA)

“While we were chatting, I noticed bagpipes lying on the floor in the far corner. Some of you may know what bagpipes mean to me, so I couldn’t help but hope they’d be played! Little did I know that thirty minutes later, it would be James picking them up and offering to play - yet I had no idea what they meant to him.

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“Nor did I know what memories they triggered for him.” Harry added: “In Afghanistan he played 63 ramp ceremonies. For 63 caskets. For 63 souls. For 63 families. For four years after that last ceremony, he couldn’t touch them. This week he wasn’t sure whether he could bring himself to play them. But he did.

“What had once haunted him, dare I say it, may now be what helps heal him. Thank you James, for your service, for your courage, for sharing your gift.” The ceremony also featured songs from pop stars Rita Ora and Sam Ryder. Earlier Harry and Meghan handed out swimming medals to three athletes, including Ukrainian war heroine Yuliia Paievska, 54, who won silver – 15 months after being freed from Russian captivity.

Meghan wore a cream Cuyana coat and trousers during the day before changing into a glamorous blue Cult Gaia dress for the closing ceremony. Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla missed out on a win at Doncaster races yesterday – as their horse Desert Hero finished third in the St Leger.

Patrick Hill