- Prince Harry has stated he feels "fortunate" to still serve his country, despite leaving the British Army after a decade of service.
- During his address to NATO's military committee, he emphasized the importance of the Invictus Games in providing opportunities for sick and injured military personnel to continue serving their communities.
- Harry expressed that he lost part of his purpose and identity when he left the military, stating, "I know something about that transition. When I hung up my uniform, I felt as though I had lost not simply a profession, but part of my purpose and identity."
- He revealed plans to transform Invictus from a sporting event into a "global movement" aimed at building more resilient nations.
- In his address, Harry warned military leaders about the challenges faced by those who leave the forces, stating, "We must think just as seriously about what happens to them after they have served—particularly when they return wounded, injured or sick."
- The Duke highlighted the importance of NATO, stating, "At its heart, NATO is an alliance of nations defended by people who volunteer to serve, train together, deploy together, fight together, and recover together."
Prince Harry addressed NATO's military committee via video link, sharing his journey from military service to civilian life. He stated, "When I hung up my uniform, I felt as though I had lost not simply a profession, but part of my purpose and identity."135
He expressed gratitude for finding "another way to serve" through initiatives like the Invictus Games, which he aims to transform into a "global movement" to support veterans.24
Harry emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of veterans, particularly those who return wounded, injured, or sick. He stated, "We must think just as seriously about what happens to them after they have served."
He highlighted the role of NATO, saying, "At its heart, NATO is an alliance of nations... defended by people who volunteer to serve." He urged military leaders to consider the "strength of an alliance" not just in terms of deployable forces but also in how they support returning service members and their families.6
Harry concluded by stating, "We rebuild purpose. We rebuild confidence. We strengthen families and communities. We connect veterans back into society."
“Harry, as Invictus Games founder, revealed plans to expand the event into a 'global movement' to 'build more resilient nations.' He stressed that NATO's strength is measured not only by deployed forces but by the societies they return to, urging support for wounded veterans.”
The Times
