Prince Harry has shared a deeply personal revelation about what has kept him grounded, shortly after receiving a major accolade. The Duke of Sussex was named among Time magazine's inaugural 100 most influential people in sports, appearing first on the list for his founding of the Invictus Games in 2014. The Games, a passion project for wounded servicemen and veterans, were inspired by his own service in the British Army.
In a statement to Time, Harry reflected on the impact of the Invictus Games: 'What we've managed to achieve through Invictus over the years is not only to give people their purpose and their meaning back, but give them their identity back.' He also highlighted how the event combines his love of sports with his commitment to supporting veterans.
Sport as a Lifeline
Speaking about his own life, the Duke admitted, 'Sport held me together.' He recalled his school days, saying, 'I was one of those kids at school who did not enjoy classroom work. If it wasn't for the sports field, and the amount of sports that were on offer, there's no way I would have stayed in school.'
Harry expressed his ambition to expand the Invictus Games into a two-week event, allowing more service members to participate. He noted, 'One thing that we really celebrate at Invictus is not only do we change lives, but we save lives as well. That's not based on anything other than the amount of individuals that come up to me and say, “If it wasn't for Invictus, I would have killed myself.”'
Return to the UK
The Duke is set to return to the United Kingdom in July for a one-year-to-go event for the 2027 Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham. This marks another milestone for Harry, who previously appeared on Time's influential lists in 2021 alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, in the Icons category, and in 2018 in the Leaders category.
