Prince Harry returned to Birmingham on Friday to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, his signature sporting competition for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans. The Duke of Sussex visited the National Exhibition Centre, the site of next year’s games, where he participated in exhibition events alongside competitors from previous Invictus Games. He took a turn at wheelchair rugby, a long-running event in the competition, showcased the new adaptive sport of pickleball, and dashed around the arena in a laser run event. The appearance caps a U.K. visit that faced several setbacks, offering Harry an opportunity to shift the focus back to his passion project.
The Birmingham Games, scheduled for July 10-17, 2027, mark the competition’s return to the U.K. for the first time since the inaugural event in London in 2014. Over 550 competitors from 26 nations will take part in 12 adaptive sports, including archery, athletics, cycling, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball. The games are designed to support recovery and inspire resilience, with success measured in “every step forward, every challenge faced, every barrier overcome”. One competitor described the community as life-changing, saying “your family are alone no more” because of the support the games provide.
The event also follows the launch of the “Spirit of Invictus” train on Thursday, which carried competitors, organizers, and veterans from London to Birmingham to begin the official countdown. Harry was not on board due to an engagement at a children’s hospital, but the community he founded expressed deep gratitude for his work. One competitor said Harry is “the same as us”, a veteran who finds his purpose and connection within the Invictus community. The prince founded the games in 2014 after visiting the U.S. Warrior Games, and today the competition includes 26 countries, with Uganda being the most recent to join.
The visit has been overshadowed by reports of security disputes, family tensions, and a failed lawsuit, but Harry appeared in good spirits throughout the Birmingham events. Reports also suggest the games have faced funding challenges, with the UK government underwriting £26 million that will only be released if Invictus raises enough money, and major sponsors like Boeing pulling out. Organizers are now actively seeking commercial partners, including local Birmingham businesses. Yet on Friday, the focus remained on the athletes. Next summer, the games return home, and for Harry, they remain his most enduring legacy.
