Prince Harry marks Invictus Games milestone with St Paul's service of thanksgiving
Prince Harry has celebrated the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games at a special service at St Paul's Cathedral in London.
The service of thanksgiving was held for the international sporting event that was founded by the Duke of Sussex in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
Harry gave a reading at the event that emphasised how different people have different gifts and strengths.
Representatives from across the Invictus Games participating nations, including members of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veteran community, were in attendance.
Prince Harry was not joined by the Duchess of Sussex for this visit, but she is reportedly scheduled to meet him in Nigeria, to where he is due to travel after leaving the UK.
The couple were invited by Nigeria's chief of defence staff after they met at the Düsseldorf 2023 Invictus Games.
Invictus family
Army Reservist Jonny Ball, who celebrated a Bronze Medal win at the Düsseldorf Invictus Games, was in attendance at St Paul's and told Forces News what a "huge honour" it was to be a part of the Invictus family.
He added that there was "no better place to be... seeing the faces from each of the previous games come together as one Invictus family".
This year marks five years since he was hit by a car, causing him life-changing injuries to his lower left leg. He has been on a long physical recovery that has included seven operations to reconstruct his leg and foot.
Mr Ball, who was joined by his wife Lydia, said that inside the cathedral "resilience" is what bonds all of us, and being able to share the day with his wife felt like he was sharing the Invictus spirit all over again.
The Dean of St Paul's told the congregation: "We gather this evening to offer grateful thanksgiving to Almighty God for the work of the Invictus Games Foundation, and in this their 10th anniversary year, we celebrate the tremendous achievements of the numerous competitors across 23 nations.
"We give thanks for the inspiring vision and compassion that formed the foundation and, chiefly, for the resultant decade of profound and transformational work.
"We lament the pain, cost and indignity of war and terror, and pray for a world where justice shall reign and where the nations will find their longed for unity.
"We recall, with admiration, the skill and determination of those who seek to repair, rehabilitate and reclaim the lives of those living with serious illness or injury: changing and saving lives."
The day before the service, Prince Harry paid tribute to the Invictus Games family's "commitment, enthusiasm and belief" during a one-day summit called the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation, which was held at the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company.
The Duke of Sussex attended the Invictus conference to look back over the past decade.
In the foreword for the summit, Prince Harry said: "It has been an honour to watch the Invictus Games Foundation grow over the years.
"What began as a vision to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, has flourished into an international organisation built on hope, strength and unity."
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