Prince Harry and First Lady of the US Jill Biden reunited for a virtual event replacing the annual Warrior Games, which was slated to be held this week in Orlando, Florida, but was canceled because of COVID-related concerns. Both Prince Harry and Jill planned to attend the Warrior Games in person but served as online co-hosts alongside Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Fisher charity CEO Ken Fisher instead.
You can watch the virtual event here
During the Warrior Games zoom conference call, Prince Harry began with an “enormous hello” to participants, service members, and families telling them that if his Paralympic-style Invictus Games “never would’ve been created had I not been inspired by every single one of you, and your companions and your families, and everything you’ve given in service to this country.”
He continued: “These games are so important, whether it’s the Warrior Games or the Invictus Games. It is the ultimate reminder of service both at home and overseas. It is about the physical and the mental fitness of those who have sacrificed so much. To see every single one of you here with the pride on your faces makes me incredibly happy to know how far you guys have come, the dark places that you’ve been to, and where you are now,” Harry added. “Thank you for inspiring us. Thank you for showing us the way. You guys are leaders in every aspect of your lives, both while serving and within your communities as well. This community is as strong as ever and that also makes me incredibly proud.”
Jill on the other hand recalled meeting Harry for the first time at the inaugural Invictus Games and applauded him for dedicating himself to “lifting up service members from around the globe.”
She said
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 7 years since the first Invictus Games in London. The memories of it are still so fresh in my mind. Every race and game more thrilling than the last,” she said, before stating that there “was one moment that I will never forget.”
She also remembered that
“her teammates lined up along the side of the pool and cheered as loudly as they could. Then, the swimmers from all different countries came over as well. With each stroke she took, the crowd shouted and chanted with encouragement until she made it to the end. Her victory and the community that came together around her took my breath away.”
She praised Harry saying: “You’ve dedicated your time, talents, and heart to lifting up service members from around the globe! It’s hard to believe it’s been 7 years since the first Invictus Games in London! The memories of it are still so fresh in my mind!”
During a trip to the Warrior Games in the USA back in 2013, Harry got the opportunity to see first-hand how the power of sport can help people who is suffering physically, psychologically, and socially from injuries and illness.
He was so inspired by his visit and suddenly the Invictus Games was born.
Both Jill Biden and her husband Joe Biden have been huge supporters of the Invictus Games. They’ve shown their support for the event since its first one back in September 2014 in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Also, back in 2015 the then-first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden toured the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvour. Harry attended to meet soldiers and spread the words about the Invictus games, with the help of both Michelle and Jill
On my Instagram account, I shared a funny video showing from 2016 when the Bidens attended the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida. During the Games’ Orlando tournament, Biden joked to the journalist that when his wife attended the event in London, “she spent too much damn time with Prince Harry!”
You can see the funny clip in the post below
Another news: Prince Harry is interviewed along with other royal family members paying tribute to the late prince Phillip. Many unseen pictures and clips will be revealed in never-before-seen footage from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal collection.
In a preview, William and Harry are seen discussing Prince Phillip during an interview about his impact on the family.
“He’s always been a huge presence behind everything we have done, really,” William said of Philip.
Harry added, “What you see is what you got with my grandfather. He was unapologetically him.”
The sentimental clips will be shown in the BBC’s upcoming documentary celebrating the Duke of Edinburgh’s life, “Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers,” which aires on BBC One at 9 pm on 22 September. I’ll make sure to share the full episode with you as soon as it’s available.