Prince Harry launches one-year countdown to Invictus Games

Prince Harry has launched the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham, marking the milestone event with a day of sports and a speech to competitors and supporters. The games, which began in 2014, will return to British shores for the first time since their inception.

Harry arrived in London on Monday without his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after they pulled out of the visit because of concerns about security. However, it appears those worries may have been mitigated. The Duke of Sussex spent the day at the event in Birmingham, taking part in a series of activities alongside athletes from previous Invictus Games. He tried pickleball, a sport similar to padel, though he struggled to return serves. He also participated in a laser run, a combined running and shooting event that will be new to the games next year, and had a go at wheelchair rugby, a brutal sport he has tried before. He celebrated when he passed a try-scoring pass to Ady Adepitan, the former wheelchair basketball player.

In a speech at the end of the activities, Harry said he was pleased to see the games back in Britain, not just because Invictus began there, but because Britain has always understood the importance of service, resilience and standing together when it matters. He said Invictus has never been just about belonging to a team, but about belonging to each other as a family. He added: "The world has a lot of troubles. When it comes to national resilience, let's use this moment, the next 365 days, to lean on and learn from the Invictus community." He said there is a place for everyone, whether athlete, family member, volunteer, supporter, sponsor or someone hearing about Invictus for the first time.

The day was a marked contrast to the tumultuous week Harry has had. Earlier in the week, an Invictus-based event in London coincided with the news that he had lost his High Court case against Associated Newspapers over a privacy matter. There has been much speculation about the whereabouts of Meghan and the children, whether they are in the country, whether they will meet the King, or whether they will make any further appearances. It has been confirmed that Meghan will not appear at any public events, but no confirmation has been given about private events.

For Harry, the spotlight was solely on him and the Invictus games. He said he can barely wait for the games to begin in Birmingham in 365 days, promising they will be bigger and better than ever. Observers noted he was relaxed, enjoying himself with lots of fist bumps, hugs, smiles and laughter. It was clear how much he inspires the competitors and how much they inspire him.