The Duke of Sussex has said the ‘Invictus spirit’ is ‘even more relevant’ amid the Covid-19 pandemic as ‘we address new challenges and adapt our lives’ during a webinar with organisers.
Prince Harry, 35, shared a message with Invictus Games organisers for the meeting, with a video clip released on the charity’s YouTube page this week.
The royal, who is currently isolating in Tyler Perry’s $18 million mansion in Los Angeles having stepped back from royal duty, told organisers: ‘This conversation is all about sharing the Invictus spirit and it is even more relevant now as we are having to address new challenges and adapt our lives.’
The video clip was released days after it was revealed that Prince Harry has merged The Endeavour Fund and the Invictus Games so that he could continue working on them following his decision to step back as a senior royal.
Prince Harry, 35, has said he believes the ‘Invictus spirit’ is ‘more relevant’ than ever in a YouTube video for the organisation
Prince Harry announced in March that the Invictus Games would be called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Organisers said the competition founded by Prince Harry – due to take place at The Hague last month – was likely to be rescheduled to May or June 2021.
At the start of the virtual meeting, which took place in May, Prince Harry told those attending: ‘Hello everybody, I’m really happy to be able to welcome you all here today for the first ever Invictus Games foundation conversation.
‘We’re obviously not in the Hague but I’m so pleased we have been able to organise this virtual gathering when the Games would have taken place themselves.’
The Duke of Sussex said that we are ‘addressing new challenges and adapting our lives’ in the virtual message
He went on: ‘This conversation is all about sharing the Invictus spirit and it is even more relevant now as we are having to address new challenges and adapt our lives.’
‘I hope that all the nations, competitors and family and friends are coping well to support each other during this time and I know you’ll be showing that resilience that is so central to the Invictus community,’
He added: ‘I’m very grateful to all of you for being here and showing your support, specifically the speakers and panelists for sharing their experiences.’
‘I hope this conversation will be the first of many, and I am really looking forward to a time when we can come together again. Thank you very much.’
The royal shared the video message with the organisation after the 2020 competition in The Hague was postponed due to the pandemic
Harry was inspired to found the global tournament after attending the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013.
At the event he saw how injured American military personnel thrived on the challenge of taking part in competitive sports that aided their recovery.
He went on to stage the inaugural games in London’s Olympic Park in 2014, followed by Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017 and Sydney in 2018.
Last year, the Duke met with team members for the Hague 2020 contest, which has since been postponed to 2021
It emerged last week that the organisation had merged with the Endeavour Fund.
Taking to Twitter, @WeAreInvictus penned: ‘The Invictus Games Foundation is delighted to announce that the Endeavour Fund has been transferred across from The Royal Foundation and into the work of the Invictus Games Foundation.
‘The Endeavour Fund will continue to support the ambitions of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans but will now expand its activities across the international Invictus community.’
The royal founded the organisation in 2014 and it has remained close to his heart ever since, choosing the 2017 event as his first public appearance with Meghan Markle, 38
The Duke of Sussex established The Endeavour Fund in 2012 when he was patron of The Royal Foundation – alongside brother Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Last year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were splitting from The Royal Foundation as the two couples started to take ‘divergent paths’ in their charity work and needed to reflect that in different outlets, a source told PEOPLE.
Following Megxit, it was decided that Prince Harry will no longer use HRH or his honorary military titles.