UK

Harry to celebrate Invictus Games anniversary with St Paul’s Cathedral service

The Duke of Sussex will give a reading at the service.

The Duke of Sussex will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral
The Duke of Sussex will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The Duke of Sussex will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games with a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Harry has travelled to the UK to commemorate the milestone with members of the Invictus Games family and mark the decade-long support competitors in the paralympic-style tournament have received.

During the service, Harry will give a reading and actor Damian Lewis will recite the Invictus poem.

There was speculation the duke may have seen his father the King, but a spokesman for Harry said on Tuesday that the monarch’s “full programme” meant the get-together would not happen.

Charles and Harry last met soon after the King announced his cancer diagnosis in February and his son, who now lives with his family in California, rushed from America to see his father.

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A spokesperson for the duke said: “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.

“The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”

The King’s ‘full programme’ means there isn’t time for him to meet with Harry during his stay in the UK
The King’s ‘full programme’ means there isn’t time for him to meet with Harry during his stay in the UK (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Harry spent Tuesday in the capital attending a summit that reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games which stages sporting events for wounded, sick or injured veterans or serving military to aid their recovery.

He told delegates at the event, held at the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters on the edge of the City of London: “Sometimes you… look back and go ‘Look at what we’ve done’.

“But also given the state of the world, there is so much more to do and I think a lot of uncertainty – but what we’ve created is a global community.”