Today, Prince Harry paid tribute to injured veterans at the Invictus Games, telling them: “We need you… and we’ll always need you.”
As wife Meghan looked proudly on, Harry, 40, spoke on stage at the sporting tournament’s opening ceremony, which included performances by pop stars such as Katy Perry, Chris Martin and Nelly Furtado.
The event took place at Vancouver’s 40,000-capacity BC Place Stadium, ahead of what is anticipated to be the biggest and best Invictus Games to date.
Now, a body language expert has deciphered the prince’s “battle” style of speech, which she has likened to a “military commander motivating troops”.
Body language expert Judi James told the Mirror: “Harry delivered his speech from the stage in the style he has used before, which is like a military commander motivating troops to go into battle.
“He strode about the stage, his feet banging down heels-first, biting his words with a glowering eye expression. Suited and booted, he banged his fingers into his chest as he spoke about ‘My sacred obligation’ to the Games.
“There were some laughs and chuckles at the start, but his tone became serious, and he left the stage with a sombre expression, sucking his lips inward.”
She continued: “There were also some signature signs of inner nervousness or anxiety though. He wiped his face, and then he rubbed his beard with one hand before he started, and there was a rather awkward hand on the hip gesture, while at one point, he seemed to clasp the back of his waistband.
“There was some fiddling and flicking of his free hand, but as the passion kicked in, the more nervous cues started to vanish. As he walked out of the arena, he allowed himself to relax and soak up the glory, throwing more of his double and single thumbs-up gestures and even stopping to hug one competitor that he obviously recognised.”
In his speech, Harry praised the “spirit of unity” found at the Games, during a moment of difficulty and division in many parts of the world.”
Addressing the crowds, Harry said: “Hello Canada and Bienvenue! So, the Toronto Games in 2017 were incredible, and I’m told there is no rivalry between East and West Coast, especially when it comes to sport, but I have a question for you Vancouver:
“Are you ready to show Toronto—and the world—how the Games are done? I would like to begin by honouring the First Nations, who are hosting this year’s Games. Lílwat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh. Hite-sap —— coo-cwee-lum.
“From the bid for the Games through to this week’s competition, we have walked together, side-by-side on this journey, and are so grateful to you for having these games on your land. Today, and for the next week – Warriors unite.
“In this moment of difficulty and division in many parts of the world, we gather here in Vancouver in a spirit of unity. We represent 23 nations.
Speak many different languages and reflect the full breadth of the world’s religions and faiths.”
He added: : “Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games we are grounded in mutual respect, competing fiercely, but believing in one another. Supporting one another. And rooting for one another.
“The Games were born more than a decade ago, from a promise I made to myself. A promise to uphold my obligation—a sacred obligation after my own decade and privilege of military service —to do whatever I could to help my fellow brothers and sisters heal, and to champion everything we stand for.
“Over the past decade, I’ve lost count of the times we’ve heard you tell us that the Invictus Games saved you. Respectfully, I disagree. Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself. It was you, who pushed through the doubt and despair.”
Former soldier Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games back in 2014, to champion wounded, injured, or sick service personnel and veterans. The Duke is known to be hands-on with the Games, which, given his own years in service, holds a deeply personal place in his heart.
This year’s Games marks the first time the tournament will include winter sports such as alpine skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic skiing. Beginning today (February 8), with a glittering opening ceremony featuring the likes of Katy Perry and Nelly Furtado, the tournament will last until February 16 in Vancouver-Whistler, Canada.
Harry’s ongoing dedication to the project was highlighted yesterday (Friday 7) at a welcome reception for competitors, where Meghan warmly described participants as “family”.
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Meghan told attendees: “You will see him throughout this week, you will see him at the Games, you will see him probably curling with you, cheering you on. He wants to be there with you, he is in it with you.
“What you won’t have seen is all of the moments in the lead-up to these Games. All of the moments with, as you know, with families, the big rush in the morning, and getting ready for school and packing the lunch boxes and making breakfast and my husband’s in all of that with us.
“And then he’ll be on his phone, and Archie will say, ‘Papa, why are you on your phone?’. He’s like, ‘cos it’s Invictus… I’m getting ready for Invictus’. It means so much to him.”
She continued: “You are his family, just as we are his family, and I hope you recognise how much of his heart he has poured into every single beat that has gotten all of you to this week that is going to be spectacular. I need you to know that, I need you to know how much it means to him and how much each of you means to you.”
This comes at a difficult time for the Sussexes, who have had to deal with a fair bit of scrutiny in recent weeks.
A Vanity Fair article, published January 17, cast a critical eye over the couple’s five years outside of the palace fold, with the pair having famously stepped down as senior working members of the Royal family back in 2020.
The usually supportive outlet spoke with various insiders about what it was really like to work for the power couple, and there were some less than rosy accounts of Meghan’s allegedly “painful” management style towards members of staff.
A source who worked on Sussex media projects told the publication: “[It was] really, really, really awful. Very painful. Because she’s constantly playing checkers—I’m not even going to say chess—but she’s just very aware of where everybody is on her board. And when you are not in, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment.”
The piece, headlined ‘American Hustle’, also addressed speculation over the alleged state of Harry and Meghan’s marriage, which the couple have strongly denied, even going as far as to speculate on rumours that Meghan had been approached to pen a ‘post-divorce’ book. It was however, also stated that this was not on the cards for the Sussexes, with another source insisting their “love is real”, adding that they are “still hot for each other”.
Now, a new book by royal author Tom Quinn has seen the Duke and Duchess come under scrutiny once more, with its various revelations including the claim that Meghan was allegedly displeased with hers and Harry’s first home together, Nottingham Cottage, aka, ‘Nott Cott’.
In Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants – which has been excerpted in The Times – Quinn revealed: “‘Meghan felt it was so small that it must be a reflection of how the royal family were belittling her husband. She just didn’t understand that real royals don’t care much about houses and material possessions because, having always had them, they take them for granted, said one member of staff who helped out regularly at Nottingham Cottage.”
He continued: “A rather beautiful house in the grounds of a famous palace hardly seemed to Harry the equivalent to being forced to live in a shed at the end of the garden. But for Meghan, things were more complex. She saw Kate and William living just a few yards away in Kensington Palace itself with teams of live-in servants.”
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