Prince Harry tells veterans 'you shouldn't feel lost without uniform'

Prince Harry tells veterans ‘you should not feel lost without a uniform’ during his emotional Invictus Games farewell speech… three years after he was stripped of his military titles in wake of Megxit

• Duke of Sussex was visibly emotional during his heartfelt speech last night 

Prince Harry has told veterans they ‘should not feel lost without a uniform’ during his emotional closing speech at the Invictus Games – three years after he was stripped of his military titles in the wake of Megxit. 

The Duke of Sussex was visibly emotional in a heartfelt speech last at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. 

The 39-year-old told veterans during his five-minute closing speech that they ‘don’t need to rely on a uniform’ nor should they ‘feel lost without one’. 

‘A week ago, I stood here and told you about the significance of being able to wear your nation’s flag again. And so many of you have told me that that hit you right here [pointing at is chest]. 

‘For many of you, the uniform you’ve been wearing this past week will give you a new story to tell. And for others, it may give your old uniform new meaning,’ he said. 

‘But I’m here to remind you that after all this, you don’t need to rely on a uniform, nor should you ever feel lost without one.’ 

The Duke of Sussex was visibly emotional in a heartfelt speech last at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany 

Prince Harry has said not to define people by their past pain or back story in an emotional farewell speech during the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany

Prince Harry himself has not worn a uniform since he and Meghan moved away from the UK in 2020 and he was stripped off his military titles. At the Queen’s funeral last year, Harry was pictured wearing a suit while his father King Charles and his older brother Prince William were wearing their uniforms (pictured above)

The emotional statement earned Harry a wave of applause and as the camera switched to the audience, it was obvious how much his words resonated with the veterans. 

Prince Harry himself has not worn a uniform since he and Meghan moved away from the UK in 2020 and he was stripped off his military titles. 

READ MORE: Prince Harry gets emotional as he delivers a moving speech at Invictus Games

At the Queen’s funeral last year, Harry was pictured wearing a suit while his father King Charles and his older brother Prince William were wearing their uniforms. 

At the Invictus Games, Harry added in his speech on why veterans don’t need rely on their uniforms: ‘Why? Because everything you need is already within you. Tomorrow you will each walk away with memories that are different and unique to you. 

‘But my hope is that every memory made, brings a smile to your face through a sense of belonging and an opportunity for you and your family to look forward with price and purpose. ‘

Harry also said to the competitors how their ‘vulnerability’ had ‘opened the hearts’ of millions of people all over the world.

‘Your mission to heal and grow has been shining example to us all,’ the Duke said.

‘You have shown us the power of not defining people by assumption or their backstory or past pain, but rather instead on their ability, how they show up and who they are in the present.

‘After this week, know that you are all leading the way for defining human potential and human decency.’

Harry and Meghan stood clapping each of the teams. He was sat next to Elke Budenbender the wife of the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Meghan Markle stood alongside her husband in the crowd in a glowing green dress. She couldn’t hide her pride as she beamed at Team USA when they took their place for the closing ceremony

Prince Harry took to the stage to thank the athletes who took part in the games. He had opened the game by telling the audience: ‘Ich Bin ein Düsseldorfer’ – I am a Düsseldorfer (pictured above)

Prince Harry was dressed in a dark suit and dark shirt. During his closing speech he spoke directly to the competitors and how their ‘vulnerability’ had ‘opened the hearts’ of millions of people all over the world

She looked on adoringly as the team walked on stage to Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA. Meghan clapped along to the song as it reverberated around the Merkur Spiel-Arena and blew kisses to the team

Harry’s words were met with cheers and applause by the crowd within the Merkur-Spiel-Arena as he paid homage to the competitors who had ‘provided the magic’ during the games for the wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women. 

He also spoke of how much bagpipes mean to him, in what appeared to be a nod to how they evoke memories of his Princess Diana’s death. 

READ MORE: Prince Harry says don’t ‘define people by their back story’ in tearful farewell speech to Invictus Games competitors – after week-long event with wife Meghan Markle by his side

In his memoir, Spare, Harry wrote about how he and Prince William had snuck out of bed the evening before their mother’s death to meet the Queen’s piper and play with his bagpipes. 

He wrote: ‘With bagpipes it’s not the tune, it’s the tone. Thousands of years old, bagpipes are built to amplify what’s already in the heart. If you’re feeling silly, bagpipes make you sillier.

‘If you’re angry, bagpipes bring your blood to a higher boil. And if you’re in grief, even if you’re twelve years old and don’t know you’re in grief, maybe especially if you don’t know, bagpipes can drive you mad.’

During the speech, he spoke of a meeting he had the day before with Canadian team member Master Corporal James Gendron.

‘While we were chatting I noticed bagpipes lying on floor in the far corner,’ he said.

‘Some will know what bagpipes mean to me, so I couldn’t help but hope they would be played. Little did I know that 30 minutes later it would be James picking them up and offering to play. 

‘Yet I had no idea what they meant to him nor did I know what memories they triggered for him. In Afghanistan, he played 63 ramp ceremonies – 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 even sure whether he could bring himself to play them, but he did. 

Prince Harry also joined the applause from his front row seat – and took to the stage to thank people for coming

Meghan was glowing in green as she wore an £830 Raylene dress from Cult Gaia, laser-cut with floral patterns

Meghan beams and Harry pumps his fist as the Invictus Games draw to a close 

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Rita Ora and Sam Ryder pose tonight before the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games

Meghan, in a glittering green dress, greets a competitor of the Invictus Games

Dominic Reid, chief executive of the Invictus Games, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Elke Bundenbender and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, president of Germany, at the Invictus Games closing ceremony in Dusseldorf

‘What had once haunted him,  dare I say it, may now be what helps heal him. Thank you, James, for your service, your courage, and for sharing your gift.’

Meghan Markle stood alongside her husband in the crowd in a glowing green dress. During the ceremony she couldn’t hide her pride as she beamed at Team USA when they took their place for the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games.

She looked on adoringly as the team walked on stage to Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA. Meghan clapped along to the song as it reverberated around the Merkur Spiel-Arena and blew kisses to the team.

Prince Harry also joined the applause from his front row seat – and took to the stage to thank people for coming.

Thumping dance music greeted each of the teams as they took to the stage with the Ukrainian team given a standing ovation.

Harry and Meghan stood clapping each of the teams. He was sat next to Elke Budenbender the wife of the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. 

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