This Friday, April 22, 2022, the Duke of Sussex proceeded to the closing of the Invictus Games in The Hague, by delivering a very moving speech, addressed to the veterans who took part in the competition. The closing ceremony of the Invictus Games took place in the presence of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
The closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague
On April 16, Meghan Markle took the stage to introduce her husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, founder of the Invictus Games, an international sports competition for veterans. During the following days, Prince Harry was on all fronts to supervise the smooth running of this 5th edition of the Invictus Games, which took place this year at Zuiderpak in The Hague.
After a week of competition, during which more than 500 veterans competed for the colors of their country in ten sports disciplines, Prince Harry proceeded to the closing of the games, during a ceremony with a format almost identical to the opening ceremony. The king Willem-Alexander was present in the room, as well as his aunt, the princess Margriet, itself accompanied by one of his sons, the prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau and one of his grandsons, Lucas.
Prince Harry gave a speech as well as the head of defense. Also present in the room was Kajsa Ollongren, Dutch Minister of Defense. During the opening ceremony, the speech of the Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, was particularly noteworthy.
The Duke of Sussex gives a poignant speech to close the Invictus Games
In his closing speech, Prince Harry quoted the 13th century Persian mystic poet, Rumi: “The wound is the place where the light enters you,” he said while addressing the veterans. This quote was reportedly widely circulated on the games campus during the week-long competition.
“You have all reached the top of your mountain. And I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you,” continued Prince Harry, himself a veteran of 10 years of service to his country, including time spent in Afghanistan. “We, your friends and family, couldn’t be prouder of who you are and what you represent, especially given what it took to get here.”
Prince Harry gave a poignant speech, revealing the severe physical and emotional wounds veterans must live with. “From the interviews Invictus has done across the park this week, and as some of you have shared with me personally, many would have committed suicide without these games. You made the choice to be here, to stay with us, to grow with us, and I can’t explain how much that means to me and how much you all mean to us. So thank you.”
According to Prince Harry, these games can be seen as an example of “the direction this world needs today: the power of resilience, the power of healing and the power of recovery. So if, or when, you feel alone, know that you are not alone. This community is with you. We are all with you. To our friends and family, we wouldn’t be here without you.”
Photos credits: Bestimage