Following yesterday’s emotional opening ceremony, the second Invictus Games Day saw Meghan and Harry meeting British competitors at the athletics track.
Arriving
The couple chatted briefly to staff assembled at the entrance.
Harry immediately ran over to offer a warm embrace to Paralympian and Invictus Games trustee David Henson. David is a former Royal Engineer who lost both of his legs in 2011 when he stood on an IED during an attempt to clear a building of mines in Afghanistan so locals could return. He’s long been a close ally of Harry.
You´ll also recall that his daughter Emily, then two, famously stole the duke’s popcorn at the Invictus Games in 2017.
Harry and Meghan spent a great amount of time greeting the athletes. Here, they are greeting competitors from Italy.
The Couple hugged Team United Kingdom competitor Lisa Johnston. Lisa had her left leg amputated after suffering an injury during a routine physical training session with the Royal Army Medical Corps in 2014.
She was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after the injury, a poorly understood condition where a person experiences persistent severe and debilitating pain.
The sussexes posed for a picture with team Iraq
Meghan also had a great chat with Derrick Cobbinah.
Derrick has multi-national inspiring experience supporting humanitarian logistics in harsh environments. He served more than 10 years in the British army, where he was awarded two medals – the Afghanistan service medal and the Queens Jubilee medal.
Derrick later revealed via a tweet that he chatted with Meghan about “the importance of an African country joining the Invictus Games in the near future”
Meghan and Harry also chatted with Italy’s Carlo Calcagni who they first met at yesterday’s driving challenge.
In 1996, while serving in the military, Carlo participated in the international peace mission in the Balkans, breathing heavy metal powders, as a result, he became seriously ill and was diagnosed with a series of neurological problems.
The couple watched the 200m heats
Meghan and Harry also bent down to give pets to a competitor’s dog.
Meghan and Harry then continued the day in the front row for the sitting volleyball match between Netherlands and Australia!
The couple watched the action next to Jaco Van Gass – a Paralympian gold medallist and former Invictus competitor who suffered life-changing injuries with the British Army.
Jaco left his home in South Africa to pursue a military career 16 years ago, but was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan in 2009 while serving with the Parachute Regiment and lost his left arm at the elbow.
He met Harry in 2011 when the duke joined the record-breaking team of wounded soldiers, he was part of that trekked unsupported to the North Pole.
Jaco said it was “amazing” to see Harry and Meghan, adding that it was “wonderful” to catch up with them and they were “friendly as ever”.
He said Harry told him he is having a “really, really good time”. And added: “Invictus is his family, basically. There’s so many familiar faces that he’s not seen in a while, and again to all the nations, just to catch up with them again. He’s back with his own people, he’s back in an environment that he’s so natural in and that he cares about. I think that’s the most important thing – this great depth of care that he has for the games.”
Jaco also spoke briefly with Meghan about the Invictus Games.
“She’s having a good time,” he said. “She’s in really good form and really enjoying all the events and seeing… it’s so inspirational. Even just the people on the volleyball court at the moment, you see all kinds of different injuries, and just seeing them being active, smiles on their faces, comradery, all the teams are very friendly with each other.”
Meghan celebrated the first day of easter wearing a Brandon Maxwell Belted Jacket
And her Jimmy Choo Love 85 suede pumps
After a quick outfit change, we saw Meghan visiting the British Embassy tent for a reading event! I’ll update when more details are revealed (including outfit details)
If you missed my blogpost covering yesterday’s opening ceremony – click here!
A great day with many nice moments!
XX
Keeping us informed as always, thank you.
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