Clean-cut Prince Harry dons his medals for video from the back door of his Montecito mansion to present a soldier of the year award to US combat medic

Prince Harry has donned his medals for a video from the back door of his Montecito mansion to present a Soldier of the Year award to US combat medic.

In a ‘special presentation’ of the award, the Duke of Sussex paid tribute to his ‘friend’ Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks – who he described as a ‘beacon of inspiration’ in a gushing speech from his California home.

The four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist, 33, suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq in 2010, after joining up aged just 17.

Looking clean-cut in the warm American sunlight, Harry, 39, wore a black jacket and red tie for the video link alongside his medals.

It comes as Meghan Markle, 42, is gifting her new limited edition jam to her celebrity friends as she continues to soft launch her lifestyle brand – most recently giving one to Kardashian momager and reality TV star Kris Jenner.

Speaking on video, he told the crowd: ‘I first met Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks at the Invictus Games in Orlando 2016, where I presented her with not one, but four gold medals that she’d won in swimming.

In a ‘special presentation’ of the award, the Duke of Sussex paid tribute to his ‘friend’ Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks – who he described as a ‘beacon of inspiration’ in a gushing speech from his California home

Looking clean-cut in the warm American sunlight, Harry, 39, wore a black jacket and red tie for the video link alongside his medals

Four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, 33, (pictured) suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq in 2010, after joining up aged just 17

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex are seen at the wheelchair basketball final between the United States and France during day four of the Invictus Games in 2023

‘To me, she epitomises the courage, resiliance and determination represented across our service community. And this is not just because of her swimming abilities.

‘Ellie has courageously overcome every obstacle to cross her path. She has turned her pain into purpose and led through compassion and willpower, showing others that the impossible is indeed possible.

‘Despite the injuries she endured during her deployment as a medical assistant in Iraq – along with numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many – she has persevered tirelessly, becoming the first woman in the Army’s world-class athlete program as well as the first swimmer the program had ever seen.

‘She’s also taken her recovery a step further, using her experiences and achievements to inspire and assist others in their mental and physical journey into sport, ensuring those who can’t see a way out or through are introduced to the medicine of sport that saved her too.’

Pinned to his chest during the ceremony, Harry proudly wore his Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, which he earned in 2008 for his service in Helmand Province.

He also showed off his Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, which was awarded in 2002 to everyone who had been in active service for five years, and his Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, which was given to members of the emergency services, Armed Forces, prison service, and the royal household in 2012.

Finally, he wore his Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal – despite having given up his honorary military titles in 2020.

Prince Harry first met SFC Marks at the Invictus Games tournament in Orlando in 2016, and said he is now ‘honoured’ to call her his friend.

Since 2014, with the Prince’s backing the Invictus Games have become a popular global sports competition which 22 countries and more than 500 athletes have been involved with. 

Pinned to his chest during the ceremony, Harry proudly wore his Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, which he earned in 2008 for his service in Helmand Province

Prince Harry and Meghan attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games Dusseldorf in 2023

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry laugh during the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony on September 10, 2014 in London

The award ceremony was hosted by the Military Times – an independent news website who honour one outstanding military member for each branch of service, based on service that goes beyond the call of duty.

Thanking SFC Marks for her service, he continued: ‘Ellie – you embody the Invictus spirit through your selfless service. You know that sport doesn’t just save lives, it transforms them for the better.

‘And in finding your own cure, you’ve helped countless brothers and sisters in staying alive.

‘Your unwavering commitment serves as a beacon of inspiration, offering hope and setting a powerful example for others to follow.

‘I am honoured to call you my friend and can’t thank you enough for being you – and for Mason, your husband, for being so supportive of you.

‘To all the service members in the room tonight, past and present, know that your community and indeed the international community is grateful.

‘Grateful for all the sacrifices you and your family have made, grateful for your service to your country, grateful for continuing the important values we learnt.

‘Tonight, it’s for you. Thank you for all that you’ve done.’

Prince Harry has not worn a uniform since he and Meghan moved away from the UK in 2020 and he was stripped off his military titles.

Prince Harry looks thoughtful as he sits at the observation post on JTAC Hill on January 2, 2008 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Elizabeth Marks of Team United States competes in her women’s 200m individual medley at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attend the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games venue in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2022

Speaking as she accepted her award SFC Marks said the ‘people in her corner’ had ‘made her cry’ during the event.

She has also recieved the ESPY Pat Tillman Award recipient in 2016 and was inducted into the Army Woman’s Hall of Fame in 2017.

A 10-time world record holder and 15-time American record holder, she has also been celebrated as the first Paralympic female in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program as well as the most decorated athlete in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program’s history.

In an eloquent and heart-rending speech, she choked back tears as she spoke of the need for ‘real actions’ to protect against suicide within the armed forces.

She said: ‘I wanna say thank you to the people that failed me. I wanna say thank you to the individuals in leadership positions who showed me what not to become. Without you I wouldn’t have the perspective and empathy to see service members as they deserve.

‘Too often we treat those who ask for help as villains. We forget our promises made, and because of those things suicide is the leading cause of death within our ranks.

‘Suicide isn’t killing our people. Neglect is. There will never be a rank, a medal or an accolade that means more to me than the lives I couldn’t save.’

She added: ‘We’re failing eachother, before and after service. We have to do better.’

Gold medalist Elizabeth Marks of the United States stands on the podium at the medal ceremony for Women’s 100m Breaststroke at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Bronze medallist Elizabeth Marks (right) of United States poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for Women’s 50m Freestyle S6 Final at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships

The Duke of Sussex speaking during the Invictus Games opening ceremony at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany

Prince Harry’s heartfelt speech came as Meghan Markle continues rolling out the first pots of jam to her celebrity friends marking the beginning of her latest business venture, American Riviera Orchard.

The Duchess of Sussex strategically sent out jars of the strawberry preserve, made from fruit grown in the Californian enclave of Montecito, to a specially-selected group of friends and celebrities. 

Over the past week and a half there have been a trickle of posts, with just eight of the 50 ‘jamfluencers’ sharing a snap of the product to fans on social media. 

Each of the jars have been numbered one to 50, playing into the ploy to boost intrigue about the lifestyle brand.

The numbers 13, 17 and 19 are amongst those already been sent out with culture and brand expert Nick Ede suggesting Prince Harry or her mother Doria Ragland might receive jar number one.

The usual suspects, include Abigail Spencer and Kelly McKee Zajfen, were among the first to receive a gift from their long-term friend Meghan. 

Meghan’s former Suits co-star shared a number of photos of her lying in the garden alongside the jam nestled in a bowl of oranges.

Meanwhile, parenting campaigner Kelly shared a video of the jam being spread on a slice of toasted sourdough in a clip captioned ‘mornings with American Riviera Orchard’.

Meghan Markle has been strategically sending out jam jars to her celebrity friends ahead of her brand launch 

Chrissy Teigen and her singer-songwriter husband John Legend joined the jam gang.

 Others who received the gift packages, accompanied with a handwritten note from the mother-of-two, included Argentinian socialite Delfina Balquier and Diana Ross’ daughter Tracee Ellis Ross.

Netflix star Mindy Kaling and fashion designer Tracy Robbins also made the list.

This week reality TV star and Kardashian momager Kris Jenner revealed she was the latest to receive the summery-looking package.

Jenner did not pose in an elaborate photoshoot alongside the item, but simply wrote ‘thank you American Riviera Orchard’ with a yellow love heart emoji.

It came just hours after model Chrissy Teigen and her singer-songwriter husband John Legend joined the jam gang.

They shared a video of themselves making sandwiches with the spread as they swayed along to Bob Marley’s hit song Jamming.

It comes as the Montecito-based royal breathes a sigh of relief after Jo Biden’s administration rejected a claim that Prince Harry’s U.S. visa records should be released because of ‘extraordinary’ comments by the president’s ambassador to the U.K.

It followed Ambassador Jane Hartley recently said that Harry would not be deported from the U.S. while Biden is president.

Kris Jenner became the latest of Meghan’s celebrity friends to be gifted with a jam jar from her American Riviera  Orchard 

Meghan Markle ‘s close friend and former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer is one of the lucky 50 to have received a limited edition jar of the Duchess’ new American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam

Mindy Kaling, award-winning writer and actress, is among the exclusive group to have received jam from Meghan’s first American Riviera Orchard batch

The Heritage Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based think tank, is currently suing Biden’s Department of Homeland Security under the Freedom of Information Act for access to the royal’s immigration papers.

In a legal salvo earlier this month it said Hartley’s comments undermined the Biden administration’s position that the documents should be kept secret, and backed up the case for disclosing them. 

The filing of over 100 pages in Washington D.C. included a full transcript of what the think tank called Hartley’s ‘extraordinary’ comments in an interview with Sky News on March 25.

However, in a new response submitted to Judge Carl Nichols in Washington D.C. lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security refused to accept the argument.

They said Hartley had simply been giving her reaction to previous comments by Donald Trump that he might deport Harry if he becomes president again.

And they said, in doing so, the ambassador had not revealed any private information about the royal’s immigration status.

But in the filing the U.S. government lawyers also rejected the idea that Hartley had ruled out deportation of Harry regardless of what happened in the future.