Prince Harry attends UK event alone as King Charles 'too busy' to see him
Prince Harry was seen attending a UK event solo, as it was reported that King Charles was 'too busy' to meet him. The Duke of Sussex appeared alone at the celebration marking the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, held at St Paul's Cathedral in London.
The Games, which were established by Harry in 2014, aim to support injured servicemen and women. The Duke arrived at the Cathedral without any other Royal Family members, following news that King Charles was unable to reunite with his son due to his schedule.
Upon exiting his car, dressed in a navy suit and adorned with his military medals, Harry greeted the crowd with a smile and wave, eliciting cheers from the wellwishers who had gathered to see him. Meanwhile, King Charles was hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace, just two miles away, according to The Mirror.
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Despite the absence of other royals at the event, Harry was accompanied by a few family members. His uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, and his aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes - both siblings of the late Princess Diana - were present, along with Harry's cousin, Louis Spencer.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and actor Damien Lewis were among the attendees at a special service, where Lewis delivered a poignant poem. The hymn "Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven" marked the opening of the ceremony, reports Birmingham Live.
The Dean of St Paul's addressed the crowd, saying: "We gather this evening to offer grateful thanksgiving to Almighty God for the work of the Invictus Games Foundation, and in this their tenth anniversary year, we celebrate the tremendous achievements of the numerous competitors across 23 nations.
"We give thanks for the inspiring vision and compassion that formed the foundation and, chiefly, for the resultant decade of profound and transformational work. We lament the pain, cost and indignity of war and terror, and pray for a world where justice shall reign and where the nations will find their longed for unity.
"We recall, with admiration, the skill and determination of those who seek to repair, rehabilitate, and reclaim the lives of those living with serious illness or injury: changing and saving lives."
Michelle Turner, the former vice-captain of the Invictus Games Team UK, also read a poem that reflected on the significant impact the Invictus Games had on her path to recovery and the lives of her family members. Ex-RAF sergeant Michelle, who rendered her service for a duration of 21 years, was diagnosed with a cardiac condition during her deployment time. A severe infection resulted in postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), a disorder that triggers arbitrary heart responses and lead to sudden collapses.
On one horrific occasion, her four-year-old offspring saved her from potential harm by calling 999 as she collapsed at home. In her poem, she traced the journey of Invictus athletes who "fought for our countries on deployments far and wide, devoted our years and served with pride..." Post-discharge she found herself left "wounded, injured, sick and with no career, consumed with insecurities, the pain and the fear", and it was during this stage that her young daughter cared for her.
Her little girl contributed a poignant section to her mum's verse, reflecting on moments when she felt like she was "felt like I was losing my mum, she was in hospital all the time." Harry led the crowd in applauding emotionally as Michelle concluded her reading: "Thank you Invictus, for giving me my life back."
During the ceremony, Prince Harry, who has twice served in Afghanistan over his decade-long military tenure, put forward a reading from Corinthians 12. 4-11 preceding the Dean of St Paul's sermon. The Dean paid homage to those who have sacrificed their lives in conflicts both past and present, while the tune of Flowers of the Forest filled the air, played by a piper.
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