The Duke of Sussex and The Invictus Games: 2014 and 2016-2018, 2020

[Princess Larisa]

Court Circular 29th October:
Buckingham Palace

The Duke of Sussex, Patron, Invictus Games Foundation, this morning attended the launch of Team UK for the Invictus Games the Hague 2020 at the Honourable Artillery Company, Finsbury Barracks, City Road, London EC1.

[Lumutqueen]

Dusseldorf, Germany has been announced as the host for the 2022 Invictus Games:
https://twitter.com/WeAreInvictus/st...444191233?s=20

[eya]

Duke of Sussex, with German Defence Minister A. Kramp-Karrenbauer during a meeting at Buckingham Palace today to discuss the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2022


https://twitter.com/GermanEmbassy/st...289472/photo/2

[Lumutqueen]

Henry has an upcoming engagement on February 28th, with the legend that is Jon Bon Jovi for Invictus.


https://twitter.com/royanikkhah/stat...991792641?s=21

[Countessmeout]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

Henry has an upcoming engagement on February 28th, with the legend that is Jon Bon Jovi for Invictus.


https://twitter.com/royanikkhah/stat...991792641?s=21

Bon Jovi performed with Bryan Adams at the closing ceremonies of Invictus in Toronto (the two are actually going on tour this year together). And in November he released a song in support of veterans including military service dogs, for a documentary. Interesting to see what he and Harry may work together on.

[ladongas]

...a song for military dogs? Love it, but did it cause them to howl?

[Countessmeout]

Originally Posted by ladongas

...a song for military dogs? Love it, but did it cause them to howl?

The song was written for a documentary on service men suffering PTSD and the importance of pairing them with service dogs. The proceeds from the sale of the single went to a service dog charity.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.roll...ns-906758/amp/

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LHGGtSUckaA

[Pranter]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1230532618522898432

A bit of humor posted by Sussex Royal today


LaRae

[Lady Daly]

Originally Posted by Pranter

https://twitter.com/i/status/1230532618522898432

A bit of humor posted by Sussex Royal today


LaRae

Good one, Pranter. This is way cool

[Betsypaige]

Harry has better be careful or the supporters won’t be supporters for long. His handling of this - based on the article - has been atrocious.

https://twitter.com/phildampier/stat...407200256?s=21

[Lady Daly]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...ctus-7h2grqvnq

Here are some insights from the Sunday Times article. It's my take that the Invictus Games are in transition themselves, related or unrelated to Prince Harry's plans to step away as a working royal.

"On Friday Harry will join Jon Bon Jovi and the Invictus Games Choir at Abbey Road studios for a re-recording of the US rock star’s song Unbroken. It will be one of the prince’s final royal engagements and part of a drive to raise £2m for the Invictus Games Foundation. The charity is overseeing the transition of the games from a one-off competition for wounded warriors to a “global movement” celebrating resilience and determination."

"Dominic Reid, its chief executive, said the games had so far run on unsolicited donations, but fundraising would have to be more professional if the tournament were to be staged every two years."

"Friends of the prince appear reconciled to his scaling back his involvement with his greatest creation. John-James “JJ” Chalmers, an Invictus medallist who suffered severe injuries in Afghanistan, said: “I am grateful he created the games. It changed my life and it changed the life of others. But it is not called Prince Harry’s Invictus Games. It is called Invictus Games and it must stand on its own feet."

“It’s not about a prince, it’s not about Prince Harry. It’s about wounded, injured and sick veterans overcoming adversity to inspire others.”

[Betsypaige]

I think this speaks volumes - it’s from the Times article I posted the Twitter link to. This is just another in a long line of missteps. Harry has the right to move overseas, but everything else is wrong, from not reassuring his backers of future support to not thanking them to simply not communicating with them. It feels like he doesn’t give a fig about his old life because he’s got a great, new life....

One disillusioned supporter, who has given help worth many thousands of pounds, claimed that Harry had taken volunteers for granted and his move overseas had left them feeling abandoned. “I am just bloody angry,” he said.

“There is this expectation that we go out and flog ourselves and find support bringing in cash for Invictus. He could make this a whole lot easier if he did something as well. He could text anyone.”

A volunteer claimed Harry had left the UK without thanking supporters or reassuring them about his future commitment to the charity: “Everybody has been unwavering until now, but everybody feels they have been dropped like a bad habit.”

[SLV]

Originally Posted by Lady Daly

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...ctus-7h2grqvnq

Here are some insights from the Sunday Times article. It's my take that the Invictus Games are in transition themselves, related or unrelated to Prince Harry's plans to step away as a working royal.

"On Friday Harry will join Jon Bon Jovi and the Invictus Games Choir at Abbey Road studios for a re-recording of the US rock star’s song Unbroken. It will be one of the prince’s final royal engagements and part of a drive to raise £2m for the Invictus Games Foundation. The charity is overseeing the transition of the games from a one-off competition for wounded warriors to a “global movement” celebrating resilience and determination."

"Dominic Reid, its chief executive, said the games had so far run on unsolicited donations, but fundraising would have to be more professional if the tournament were to be staged every two years."

"Friends of the prince appear reconciled to his scaling back his involvement with his greatest creation. John-James “JJ” Chalmers, an Invictus medallist who suffered severe injuries in Afghanistan, said: “I am grateful he created the games. It changed my life and it changed the life of others. But it is not called Prince Harry’s Invictus Games. It is called Invictus Games and it must stand on its own feet."

“It’s not about a prince, it’s not about Prince Harry. It’s about wounded, injured and sick veterans overcoming adversity to inspire others.”

“It’s not about a prince, it’s not about Prince Harry. It’s about wounded, injured and sick veterans overcoming adversity to inspire others.”

Yes, the charities will go on, even without Harry.

[wyevale]

“It’s not about a prince, it’s not about Prince Harry. It’s about wounded, injured and sick veterans overcoming adversity to inspire others.”

Yes, the charities will go on, even without Harry.

I wish this incredibly worthy cause continued success, with or without the any future input by their founder.

[Lady Daly]

It was inevitable the many supporters and others involved with Invictus were not going to be happy with Harry, to say the least. I think from the beginning, Harry and Meghan have handled what has now become stepping down and now out as working royals disastrously. Having been a supporter of the couple it boggles my mind, seriously, what were they thinking.

It does appear according to Dominic Reid, chief executive of the foundation that changes were necessary anyway going forward to continue to fund the Games, Harry or no Harry.

It will be interesting to see Harry and Meghan at the Invictus Games in May at The Hague.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Lady Daly

It was inevitable the many supporters and others involved with Invictus were not going to be happy with Harry, to say the least. I think from the beginning, Harry and Meghan have handled what has now become stepping down and now out as working royals disastrously. Having been a supporter of the couple it boggles my mind, seriously, what were they thinking.

It does appear according to Dominic Reid, chief executive of the foundation that changes were necessary anyway going forward to continue to fund the Games, Harry or no Harry.

It will be interesting to see Harry and Meghan at the Invictus Games in May at The Hague.

I think if he had talked to them, maybe come up with a plan to help the organization run without him, it would have been ok. It feels like these people were blindsided, too, and that’s the issue.

[Lady Daly]

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

I think if he had talked to them, maybe come up with a plan to help the organization run without him, it would have been ok. It feels like these people were blindsided, too, and that’s the issue.

They felt/feel abandoned really, don't they.

[Queen Claude]

Perhaps I'm mis-remembering but I thought even before the Australian games that it was reported that Harry was reducing his involvement with the Invictus Games. Furthermore, and I am not trying to discount Harry's involvement, he is not currently involved in the day-to-day running of the Invictus Games, nor do I think he was involved in the day-to-day in the past.

The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry provided the initial funding to the tune of £1 million. Invictus should be established enough that it does not need Harry's money and promotion, if Harry chooses to move on or scale back which the current chief executive seems to be saying.

As far as the two people who made negative comments, they sound like disgruntled royal goupies. The Invictus Games and what they stand for should be sufficient and IMO Harry should not have to reassure volunteers about his future plans.

[ACO]

I see more people involved with IG speaking positively than the person the Daily Mail is quoting anonymously. I mean that vs the people who willing put their name to their statements.

That weighs more to me. Just like the anonymous military person they found vs the ones who actually served with him and flat out defended him loudly with their names credited. Speaks volumes actually.

[Osipi]

From all the years I've watched Harry and followed his involvement in things, it got to the point when one thinks "Harry" and right after it comes "Invictus Games". This brainchild of his started with a airline trip home being delayed a bit so that they could carry the body of a Danish soldier home also. Harry then was in the US and saw the Wounded Warrior Games (still going strong) and thought of doing the same on a different scale. The Invictus Games were born as a one off thing. The success was overwhelming. Even the name of the games stresses that those that participate in competition are the focus. They all proudly bear the "I AM" in bold letters.

It stands to reason that it was unexpected that Harry's IG would create such a sensation and following and participation with success stories through the roof. At the time of its start up, Harry was still a part time working royal and had more time and energy to devote to this endeavor. Time passed and Harry went from part time to full time working royal and so his involvement in things increase. He also married and had a child. The year the games were in Toronto was when, we the public, first got a glimpse of Harry and Meghan as a couple and also Mama Doria. I remember it well. We also saw Meghan for the first time as an expectant mother in Australia when a royal tour was scheduled to fit around the Sydney Invictus Games.

Harry was never deeply involved in the day to day running of the IG. He did stay on top of things as he still does with his Sentebale work. To think Harry would just "drop" IG, is like thinking of Harry not breathing. Its close to his heart. Its something unique to Harry, himself. It touches him in his heart to see his comrades in arms that have been hurt, maimed or affected by their service to their country beam with pride at accomplishments and realize their own self worth once again after a terrible ordeal. The IG are his baby as much as Archie is.

It does stand to reason that as things grow and change over time, there are adjustments that have to be made. Even with all the confusion, shock and awe and difference of opinion on what is going on with the Sussexes right now in their transition, never in a million years would I ever think to put down in type and hit "enter" that Harry would desert or abandon his Invictus Games. I believe it would be to Harry like losing an arm or a leg or his eyesight as its that much a part of who he is, what he believes in and strives to support and encourage.

To me, through all the past couple months and the talk and the discussion of going "commercial", the sponsorship and people and organizations that have been already drawn to support the IG is a prime example of how it is needed sometimes to foster a successful venture that does really make a huge difference in people's lives. I actually hope that it continues to grow and prosper and from what I do see with Harry joining forces with Jon Bon Jovi, this is the way to get it done.

One only has to look up and watch again the speeches that Harry has made at any of the Invictus Games to know how deeply he feels about this. Harry wears his emotions on his sleeve a lot of times and when talking about IG and the people competing, its plain to see the love, hope, encouragement and staunch support Harry holds for the Invictus Games.

ETA: Because I cannot make out lyrics listening to a tune, I looked up the lyrics. I'm posting the lyrics of "Unbroken" so all can know the lyrics to this beautiful tune.

https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

With more research, I've found that the accompanying movie "To Be Of Service" is available for viewing with Amazon Prime and also Netflix. Guess what I'll be watching tonight.