Prince Harry tells Invictus athletes that ‘the wound is where the light enters’

Speaking about the inspiring attitude of those attending the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, the Duke of Sussex said: “The wound is where the light enters you.”

Prince Harry spoke about athlete resilience at the Invictus Games closing ceremony, where he said “the wound is where the light enters you”.

The Duke of Sussex quoted the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, whose words of encouragement and wisdom were popular with the athletes at the Invictus camp, he said.

Harry founded the Invictus Games to support the rehabilitation of injured or ill military personnel and veterans from around the world by challenging them to compete in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.

At the closing ceremony in The Hague in the Netherlands, Harry told the audience that “the wound is where the light enters you”.

He continued: “You all climbed your mountain. And I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you.

“We, your friends and family, couldn’t be prouder of who you are and what you represent, especially considering what it takes to get here. Mindset is everything.”

He added: “From interviews Invictus conducted at the park this week and as some of you have told me personally, many would have taken their own lives had it not been for these games.

“You made the choice to be here, to stay with us, to grow with us and I cannot explain how much it means to me and how much you all mean to us. So thanks.

“This is a blueprint of what the entire world needs today – the power of resilience, the power of healing and the power of recovery. So if you are feeling alone, please know that you are not alone.

“This community is with you. we are all with you To friends and family, we wouldn’t be here without you. We thank you for sharing and shouldering the weight of our wounds, vulnerability becomes strength, and we all together shape the Invictus generation, in or without uniform we stand against injustice and answer the call for help.

“We defend those who need to be defended. Service and sacrifice are in our blood, and never forget that.”

Harry said he was “honoured” to have served alongside “all of you here tonight,” adding, “Thank you for your service and see you in Dusseldorf.”

The closing ceremony took place after King Willem-Alexander joined Harry in the wheelchair basketball finals.

The Duke enjoyed a quiet drink with friends at O’Casey’s Irish Pub in town on Thursday night. Pub owner John Gulay, 51, said Harry drank a single pint of Guinness before switching to lemonade.

Harry and his wife Meghan made their first public appearance together in Europe since stepping down as senior working royals more than two years ago when they attended a reception at the Games last Friday.

Harry attended events throughout the week to coincide with the aftermath of his conversation with a US television network.

In his interview with NBC’s Today Show, he said he wanted to make sure his grandmother was “protected” and had “the right people around her.”

Harry didn’t elaborate on whether he was referring to royal aides or members of his own family.

A camera crew filming for a Netflix documentary called Heart Of Invictus – a series from Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions that followed attendees at the event – were spotted around the couple during their time at the Games.

The crew continued to film Harry and competitors after Meghan left earlier this week, and a drone could often be seen over the events. Harry and Meghan signed a multi-million pound deal with streaming giant Netflix in 2020.