Prince Harry expressed his sadness over England's heartbreaking World Cup loss during a solo red carpet appearance in New York City. The Duke of Sussex made a surprise appearance at TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports event on Thursday, where he was honored for founding the Invictus Games. When asked about England's semi-final defeat to Argentina, Harry candidly replied: "Of course!"
Royal Reactions to England's Defeat
Harry's estranged brother, Prince William, also commented on England's performance, posting on X: "Gutted. England, you gave it everything and we are all so proud of you. Thank you to everyone on and off the pitch, for an incredible tournament. The fight and belief you have shown has inspired us all. The most complete England team in a tournament. Hold your heads high."
Harry's Praise for Photographers
During the photocall on the red carpet, Harry told the event photographers they were the "most polite" photographers he had ever met.
Honored for Invictus Games
TIME honored Harry for his work with the Invictus Games, an adaptive sports contest for armed forces service personnel and veterans worldwide. Harry said he was inspired to create the games on an international scale, stating: "I thought, 'Wow, look at the power of sport, look at how it is literally changing lives in front of my very eyes.' It was so clear to me. Let's invite as many countries as possible to make it international. Because clearly more countries need to benefit from this."
Recent UK Visit
Harry recently spent five days in the UK to mark the official one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. During his visit, he was joined by his wife Meghan Markle and their children Archie and Lilibet. The family was hosted at Highgrove by King Charles and Queen Camilla in what the Palace described as a "private family occasion." This marked the first time the monarch saw Archie and Lilibet in over four years, and the first time Meghan and Harry had been in the UK together since 2022 for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
