Prince Harry hugged Diana’s brother Earl Spencer and her sister Lady Jane Fellowes, who supported him during a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games this week
Prince Harry was seen hugging Princess Diana’s siblings at St Paul’s Cathedral earlier this week during a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games which was not attended by the Royal Family.
The Duke of Sussex smiled when he embraced his mother’s side of the family at the service. A viral clip shows the moment he hugged Diana’s younger brother Earl Spencer, as well as her elder sister, Lady Jane Fellowes.
The event was attended by dignitaries, politicians and close friends of Harry, but his father King Charles and brother Prince William were not in attendance. The ceremony to recognise the Paralympic-style competition Harry founded in 2014 began as a few miles away Charles met guests at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the year.
Prince Harry hugged his mother’s siblings, Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes
The monarch and his son didn’t meet during the Duke’s brief UK visit due to the King’s “full programme”, said Harry’s spokesman in a statement. Among the guests for the service were Diana’s siblings and former army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as the duke’s mentor, playing the role of a supportive big brother figure for Harry after the princess’s death.
Crowds had gathered around crash barriers to see the duke’s car pull up, and there was a large number of journalists, photographers, and camera operators covering his every move. Harry acknowledged them with a wave as he strode up St Paul’s steps and was warmly greeted by the Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett.
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Princess Diana’s family supported Harry on the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games
Harry was inspired to found the global tournament after attending the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013 and seeing how injured American military personnel thrived on the challenge of taking part in competitive sports that aided their recovery. He went on to stage the inaugural games in London’s Olympic Park in 2014 and the tournament has been held across the globe from Orlando and Sydney to Dusseldorf in 2023, with the 2025 event being hosted in Vancouver and Whistler.
The St Paul’s congregation of just over 1,000 people gave a standing ovation after ex-RAF servicewoman Michelle Turner, husband John and daughter Maya each read verses of a poem that described their experiences following Mrs Turner’s medical discharge, after a tropical disease she caught while on deployment affected her heart. Mrs Turner, Team UK captain for the 2018 Games, told the guests: “Wounded, injured, sick, and now with no career: consumed by insecurities, the pain and the fear.
“Our lives were upside down, how could it be, that the little girl I was meant to protect, was now looking after me.” At the end, after her voice broke with emotion as she said “Thank you Invictus for giving my life back”, the congregation stood and applauded.
The Dean of St Paul’s echoed her words in his sermon when he said the Invictus Games Foundation, which organises the competition, was ” … not only changing lives through sport but quite literally by saving lives.” Harry later made a surprise visit to a charity event, spending the afternoon with 50 children and young people, aged between six and 22, who had experienced the death of a military parent.
Earl Spencer attended the service at St Paul’s Cathedral (
Image:
Getty Images for Invictus Games)
Harry departs the ceremony in London (
Image:
GC Images)
DON’T MISSHe took part in games – including one which saw the duke use a straw to transport Smarties as quickly as possible – and spoke to the youngsters as part of the fun-filled event hosted in London by Scotty’s Little Soldiers. Harry also spent time talking to nine members from Scotty’s Council, a group of young people who represent the charity’s other members, who discussed their experiences of growing up without a parent.
The duke, 39, completed two tours of Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013 as a forward air controller and an Apache helicopter pilot, having flown countless training missions in the UK, US and Australia. He said: “It was an honour to meet so many of the wonderful families Scotty’s Little Soldiers supports.
“I have long believed in the mission of this charity, and I truly believe the work they do to foster community and create space for young people to connect, grieve, but also have fun together is life-changing. I am a huge supporter of their work, and very proud to be their first global ambassador.”
The charity – for which the duke became a global ambassador in November – was one of seven which had been nominated by Harry and Meghan to benefit from donations marking the couple’s wedding ceremony in 2018. Harry has been involved with the charity since 2017 and recorded a special video message in 2022 dressed as Spider-Man for its children’s Christmas party.
