The Duke of Sussex tried his hand at an Australian accent while addressing veterans and their families at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Wednesday. 'G'day everybody,' he said, before praising the impact of the Invictus Games, adding that nowhere was it 'more evident than here in good old Australia.'
Harry, wearing a suit with his military medals, began his speech with an Acknowledgement of Country, a gesture of respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Before the speech, he attended a drinks reception for Invictus Australia supporters, where he cuddled and kissed a veteran's assistance dog named Gigi.
The duke was given a tour of the war memorial and its museum, beaming after receiving a handmade 'Welcome to Canberra' sign from a child. He expressed interest in an exhibition on the Ukraine War and waved to surprised visitors. He also witnessed a Last Post Ceremony dedicated to Lieutenant Irene Ada Singleton, an Australian WWII nurse who died as a Japanese prisoner of war.
Harry announced the inaugural Invictus Australia Sports Festival will take place later this year in Perth. He noted that the Invictus team is reviewing bids for the 2029 Games, to be awarded this summer to either the US, Denmark, or South Korea, with 'strong interest' from nations for 2031.
The Invictus Games, inspired by Harry's 2013 visit to the Warrior Games, uses sport to support recovery of wounded service personnel. Australia hosted the games in 2018; the next event will be in Birmingham in July 2027. Since Invictus began in Australia, it has supported nearly 30,000 veterans and families.
