Royals

Prince Harry visits injured defence personnel

Prince Harry mingles with wounded service personnel at a selection event for the Invictus Games.
Prince Harry visits injured defence personnel

The prince watched as wounded servicemen and women competed in a selection of events at Tedworth House in Tidworth, Wiltshire, to kick off the selection process for the Paralympic-style tournament.

British Armed Forces team will select the very best athletes from serving and veteran personnel to compete in sporting events such as wheelchair rugby, cycling and indoor rowing for the games held in early September.

The UK will boast a healthy 100-person team to compete against 13 other nations at the competition to be held at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London in September.

Harry, who wore jeans and a black fleece emblazoned with the Games logo, mingled with the competitors and later told the press he hoped the competition would help the injured personnel in the recovery process.

“The intense physical training and competitive spirit that will be forged inside this team as they prepare to represent their country in the Invictus Games will, I hope, go some way to helping the recovery not only of those who hope to be selected here today, but also inspire others along the way,” the Prince said.

David Henson, who was injured in Afghanistan in 2011 says the games will help veterans to see a life beyond disability.

“These games will provide us, the wounded community, with the tools to create our own futures, to govern our own destinations, to show that we cannot be broken.”

The games are due to kick off on September 14.

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