Prince Harry was visibly moved during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium, according to expert lip-reader Jeremy Freeman, who disclosed poignant interactions between the Duke and his wife Meghan Markle.
Speaking to an audience of 40,000, the Prince stated: “We gather here in Vancouver in a spirit of unity.”
He went on to say: “Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games we are grounded in mutual respect, competing fiercely, but believing in one another.”
Highlighting the competitors’ grit, Prince Harry added: “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.”
During these moving speeches, Harry shared a tender exchange with Meghan, as reported by the Express. Before departing for his speech, Freeman noted Harry reassured Meghan with “OK, I’ll be back later,” to which a supportive Meghan replied: “You’re amazing.”
The Duchess, 43, then hugged her husband tightly and they shared an intense kiss amidst the lively atmosphere. There were also claims that Harry subtly rebuked US President Donald Trump, following Trump’s previous sharp comments about Meghan.
Donald Trump has waved off the notion of deporting Prince Harry from the US, despite the royal’s revelations of past drug use in his memoir. Trump implied that Harry has “enough problems with his wife” Meghan Markle, whom he labelled as “terrible.”
His comments followed shortly after Prince Harry condemned what he views as a “weak moral character in the world” at the Invictus Games.
Prince Harry told the audience, “At this moment, when there is no shortage of crises, no absence of uncertainty, no lack of weak moral character in the world, the values you embody, the way you carry yourselves – not only at the Invictus Games, but each and every day – your courage, your resilience, your humanity, illuminate a path forward for us all.”
The opening night of the Invictus Games was a resounding success, with Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado delivering a rousing performance of her hits to an elated audience. Chris Martin, Coldplay’s frontman, followed up with a performance of the Invictus Games anthem, which he penned in 2014.
Martin also expressed his admiration for Prince Harry and was later spotted sharing a light-hearted moment with him and Meghan. The evening was marked by a touching “shared moment of healing” led by Master Corporal James Gendron on the bagpipes.
Gendron, who has experienced psychological injuries from his time in Afghanistan after participating in 63 funeral-style ceremonies for fallen soldiers, was accompanied by additional pipers and drummers. Together, they created a powerful sound that resonated throughout the arena.