Prince Harry opens up about the ‘healing power of sport’ in new Invictus video released ahead of 2025 Games

Prince Harry has opened up in a emotional new video about the ‘healing power of sport’ ahead of next year’s Invictus Games.

The Duke of Sussex released the message on the official account for the 2025 Games to be held in Vancouver, Canada, this afternoon on X, formerly Twitter.

He told viewers: ‘Sport has the ability to heal, to change lives and to save lives.’

Harry is patron of the Invictus Games which he established in 2014 as an international adaptive multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women.

Both serving troops and veterans are encouraged to compete as part of their recovery journeys.

Prince Harry opened up in a new video about the ‘healing power of sport’ ahead of next year’s Invictus Games scheduled to be held in Vancouver, Canada

The video promoting next year’s Games features a compilation showing previous competitors

Prince Harry and his then-girlfriend and now-wife Meghan are seen here attending the wheelchair tennis at the Invictus Games in 2017, also in Canada but in Toronto

Harry added in his direct address in the 117-second video: ‘For so many of these competitors, getting to the start line has been one of the hardest moments of their life.

‘But at the Games, their lives are changed. Watching these magical moments happen, and sport being the facilitator of that, is very, very special for all of us to witness.’ 

Earlier this summer the prince hailed the wounded, injured and sick serving UK personnel and veterans who are to take part in the 64-strong squad, made up of 60 competitors and four reserves.

They were named as Team UK for what is called the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler scheduled to be held next February.

Prince Harry said in July: ‘Congratulations to those selected for Team UK for our first-ever Winter Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler next February.

‘Team UK will join over 500 competitors from across 20 nations in this groundbreaking event that expands the range and profile of winter adaptive sports.

‘These games present an incredible opportunity for our courageous service personnel and veterans to demonstrate their skills in new challenges like alpine skiing, snowboarding and skeleton, as well as providing a truly memorable experience for their families.

‘We’re excited to see their passion, determination, and resilience on full display as they take on this new chapter.’

The Duke of Sussex is patron of the Invictus Games which he established in 2014

The moving new video posted today on the official X account for the 2025 Invictus Games featured participants from previous tournaments as well as their families

The Duke of Sussex is pictured sliding down the track on a skeleton sled during an Invictus Games training camp Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, slides down the track on a skeleton sled during an Invictus Games training camp in February

That same month Harry was honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his Invictus Games work at the glitzy ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.

Tillman, an American football star who gave up a £3million contract to enlist in the US Army after 9/11, had his life tragically cut short at the age of 27 when he was killed in friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan 20 years ago.

The prince, watched by his wife Meghan Markle, used his acceptance speech to speakof the ‘eternal bond’ between mother and son – a nod to Mary Tillman and Princess Diana.

Harry had faced calls to reject the award because it has typically gone to unsung veterans, with more than 76,000 people signing a petition demanding the decision was reversed.

Tillman’s mother Mary, who said she was not consulted about Prince Harry being given the award bearing her son’s name, told the Mail ahead of the event: ‘I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award.

‘There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.

‘These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognised.’

Next year’s Invictus Games in Vancouver will be the first Invictus Games to include winter sports.

The Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle are seen here as spectators during the Invictus Games 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in the German city of Dusseldorf

Prince Harry, pictured with his wife Meghan, has said he is excited to see ‘passion, determination and resilience’ of the UK squad for the first Invictus Games with winter sports

Prince Harry at the Invictus Games One Year To Go Event in February in Whistler, Canada

Meghan Markle beamed with pride as Prince Harry collected a prestigious military honour at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles in July this year

Team UK captain, Stephen ‘Hoops’ Hooper, is returning for his second Invictus Games after competing in powerlifting and sitting volleyball at Dusseldorf in 2023.

Hooper, who served in the RAF and was diagnosed with PTSD before being medically discharged in 2021, said: ‘To be selected for Team UK again was overwhelming in itself, but to be captain as well, is a privilege.

‘I gained a lot from the whole Team UK experience last time around, I’ve gone from standing in the corner of a room and not talking to anybody, to finding my voice again.

‘And that’s what I want to do for others this time – make sure every member of Team UK comes together and takes those steps forward in their recovery.’