Royal tour 2018: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Invictus Games closing ceremony
MEGHAN has given an emotive public farewell speech ahead of her husband Prince Harry at the Invictus Games closing ceremony that stunned viewers. WATCH THE REPLAY
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PRINCE Harry and his wife Meghan have given powerful, and emotive farewell speeches at the Invictus Games closing ceremony that stunned viewers.
Meghan opened her speech by saying it was an honour to be there and celebrate and supporting her husband in the Invictus Games which he founded four years ago.
“In that short span of time, the Games have evolved into an international platform of some of the best athletics and sportsmanship you could ever witness, coupled with the camaraderie and close-knit sense of community which can only be defined as the Invictus Spirit,” she said.
“With that said and on a very personal note, I just wanted to thank all of you for welcoming me into the Invictus Family.
“I am truly so grateful to be a part of this with each and every one of you, and I’m not sure if many of you know this — thank you — I’m not sure if many of you know this, but a few years ago before I met my husband, I had the incredible honour of meeting troops deployed all over the world from the UK, Afghanistan and several other countries.
“In travelling to these military bases, I was given a very special glimpse into the lives of those who serve our countries. I was able to see the unshakeable bond between servicemen and women on the ground together, but at the same time to feel the palpable longing for family and friends while deployed. Once home, the need for that anchor of support from loved ones, especially given how much it accelerates recovery and rebilltation is immeasurable. I’ve been reminded of those memories here.”
PHOTOS: WHAT YOU MISSED AT HARRY’S INVICTUS GAMES
PHOTOS: THE MOMENTS MEGHAN AND HARRY STUNNED AUSTRALIA
WATCH THE REPLAY BELOW
Meghan then went to reflect on her time at this year’s Games in Sydney.
“I have witnessed the most amazing support networks that surround competitors, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting several of these family and friends,” she said.
“The Novak family from Chicago is a prime example of this very thing. When their son, Ryan, suffered a severe injury leaving him paralysed from the waist down, doctors said he would never be able to walk again, but after speaking to his mum, Karri, it was clear that it was through Ryan’s strength of spirit and with the unwavering support of his parents that he was able to prove all of those doctors wrong.
“Not only has Ryan competed in sailing, swimming and athletics this week, but when Harry and I saw him at the finish line of the sailing competition, he literally jumped into our boat, with dexterity and ease by the way to give both of us a hug.
“Seeing Ryan’s mum on the water that day, waving a flag to cheer him on was a moment I will never forget. The support system on the ground here in Invictus is something unlike any other because it’s not just cheering on your own, but realising that by the end of this week, your own becomes everyone in the Invictus Family. It was, after all, only within 24 hours of meeting other families at the Games, that another competitors’ little girl was calling Karri, ‘Auntie Karri.’ This is what the Invictus family is all about.”
The Duchess of Sussex had another wardrobe change as she and Prince Harry attended the ceremony.
Meghan was seen wearing a sleeveless khaki, olive outfit by UK fashion designer Anthony Berardi as she sat down with Harry.
PRINCE HARRY’S MOVING SPEECH
Prince Harry later spoke, thanking “the people of Australia who filled the stands and cheered on the sidelines”.
“Your energy powered our competitors all week and you made these Games your own, by creating a typically Aussie atmosphere,” he said.
“To the friends and families who got our competitors to the start line and applauded them all the way to the finish line, thank you. You are all part of one big Invictus Family, and none of us would be here without you. And to the competitors goes the biggest thanks of all. You have once again left us humbled and inspired by your example, by your determination, by your service and by your sense of humour.”
He then went on to speak about the Invictus generation.
“Your choice to serve your nations places you alongside those storied generations that have come before you, that have fought two world wars and then secured a world order built on freedom, democracy and tolerance. And, of course, this choice to serve, this choice to put yourselves at risk for the benefit of others, is at the very heart of what I founded these Invictus Games to celebrate,” he said.
“I wanted your service to be recognised. But what we saw again this week is that Invictus is so much more. Your example goes beyond the military community. It is about more than just your inspiring stories of recovery from injury and illness. It is about your example of determination, of optimism, of strength, honour and friendship, or, as the Aussies call it, mateship.”
Harry then said he believed that the real power of Invictus athletes’ example “is that they are not super-heroes”.
“Sorry to break it to you, guys,” he said, as the audience laughed.
“Because, as you have witnessed this past week, what they are achieving isn’t impossible nor is it magical. You have seen it happen before your very eyes because these competitors have made it happen. They are men and women who have confronted a challenge and overcome it. They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
“... And with the help of their friends and families, they have exceeded every expectation. That is something we can all aspire to. You do not have to be a veteran who has fought back from injury to be inspired by the Invictus example. You could be a teacher or a doctor, a mum or a dad, a child or grandparent, a farmer, a plumber, a lawyer or a CEO of anything at all. You can identify something in your own life that you want to change for the better. And you can let the men and women of the Invictus Games remind you that no challenge is too difficult to overcome.”
He also said that they all showed that it’s OK to ask for help.
“Asking for help is courageous,” he said.
“It will improve your life and lives of those around you immeasurably. In the moment you admit you are struggling, you take that first step towards a better future, for you, and your friends, and your family. You allow those around you to show you the love and concern that is central to the cure. I’ve been there. You’ve been there. And we now need to reach out to those who can never imagine themselves in that place.”
HARRY PRAISED FOR THREE THINGS
David Hurley, the Governor of New South Wales, spoke candidly about Prince Harry, telling him he had made at least three wise decisions.
“Your Royal Highness, you have made at least three wise decisions in your life,” he said before there was laughter from the audience.
“I want to draw attention to some of them this evening. Firstly, your decision to marry Her Royal Highness,” he said which got a round of applause.
“Secondly, your decision to bring the 2018 Invictus Games to Sydney”, which also drew cheers and claps.
“And thirdly — your decision a few years back to create the Invictus Games to assist our servicemen and women,” he added.
BECKS AND SON SPOTTED, BUT POSH A NO-SHOW
Invictus Games ambassador David Beckham was also spotted in the crowd at the closing ceremony with his son Romeo.
But his wife Victoria Beckham was again not by his side. Beckham and his son attended the wheelchair basketball final together without her as well.
CLOSING CEREMONY KICKS OFF
The ceremony opened with a performance by guitarist Chris Tamwoy, playing his own composition, Healing You, in collaboration with Marliya from Spinifex Gum.
Colin Hay from Men at Work, also performed the famous Aussie hit Land Down Under after the Parade of Nations took place.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also spoke. She congratulated every athlete, and quoted Australian athlete Alexia Vlahos.
She said: “Winning is not my only goal. I know that, at the end of the Games, I will have given my absolute best. I will have pushed my mind and my body beyond who I thought — beyond what I thought were my boundaries — and then seeing the smiles around me will be my golden experience.”
Guests at the closing ceremony included Prime Minister Scott Morrison, his wife Jenny and their two daughters Lily and Abbey, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Ros Packer with her daughter Gretel.
Birds of Tokyo later sang their famous song Unbreakable, before they asked everyone in the audience to hold their smartphones up with their torches on as they sang their hit Lanterns.
Australian singer/songwriter Starley then came on to sing her global hit Call On Me.
After Meghan’s speech, The Kingdom Choir from London performed a medley of songs.
After Prince Harry’s speech, US musician Aloe Blacc came on to perform.
MEGHAN’S CANDID PHOTO REVEALED
The ceremony comes after Kensington Palace shared a candid photo taken by Meghan of Prince Harry before the closing ceremony began.
The black and white picture showed Prince Harry rehearsing on stage.
It was captioned: “Getting ready for tonight’s @InvictusSydney closing ceremony, where we will celebrate the #InvictusGames competitors, and their friends and families. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will both speak at the ceremony this evening. #IG2018 PHOTO: The Duchess of Sussex”
After the closing ceremony, they fly out tomorrow for their tour of New Zealand.
They will pay tribute to the families and friends of all Invictus Games competitors when they get the chance to speak on stage.
MEGHAN AND HARRY DITCH VIPS FOR CROWDS
On the last full day of their Australian tour, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quietly slipped into the Quay Centre at Sydney Olympic Park just after 2pm AEDT.
Wearing a maroon wrap top by Australian label Scanlan Theodore and black pants, Meghan cheered and clapped throughout the game between USA and the Netherlands.
Her top also had a red Remembrance poppy on it, which is worn to honour those who died in war. Prince Harry was also wearing a poppy on his shirt.
It’s not the first time that Meghan has added this personal touch to her wardrobe when in public with Prince Harry.
Sitting among the crowd in the back row of a section, the couple appeared relaxed, chatting with spectators around them.
Their seats weren’t courtside in the front row. Instead, they sat behind war heroes in a back row.
On the opposite side of the arena, Invictus Games ambassador David Beckham was also spotted in the crowd with his son Romeo. Victoria Beckham was no where in sight. They were sitting near Defence Minister Christopher Pyne and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Comedian Hamish Blake and Ian Thorpe, another Invictus Games ambassador, was also sitting a few rows in front of Beckham.
The final was between the USA and the Netherlands at Sydney’s Olympic Park, where the American team won 29-17.
Today marks the final day of the week-long Games that were set up by Prince Harry for wounded and ill defence veterans.
Wheelchair basketball is the final event of the Games, which have involved 500 competitors from 18 nations.
A likely trio: David Beckham, Thorpie and Scomo #InvictusGames pic.twitter.com/biuwKOodpv
— Caroline Gates (@caro_gates) October 27, 2018
MEGHAN CAUGHT IN CHEEKY KISS
The Royal couple presented the winning team USA with their gold medals.
Two players from the Netherlands also snuck in a kiss on the cheek from the Duchess as she congratulated them on their second place.
PRINCE HARRY SMASHES PM’S WIFE’S PAVLOVA
Prince Harry has found the way to Scott Morrison’s heart is by smashing his wife’s pavlova.
Australia’s prime minister was gushing with praise for the royal newlyweds as he arrived at the Invictus Games ahead of the wheelchair basketball finals.
“We’ll miss them,” Mr Morrison told reporters gathered at Sydney’s Olympic Park, before he rushed to add that the Duke of Sussex had, “absolutely smashed Jenny’s pav.” “I don’t know what to say to that,” a reporter replied.
The PM said the prince’s speech at the game’s ceremony speech had been “truly inspiring”, particularly for the athletes competing.
“His ability to just recognise people and see people I think is a gift and so for him to bring that gift here to Sydney and Australia really just honours what [the athletes] have achieved to be here,” Mr Morrison said.
“Both Prince Harry and Meghan have brought a real gift here to Sydney and we hope to see them again.”
HARRY AND MEGHAN’S FINAL NIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA
They jetted back to Sydney late yesterday after spending a few days touring Fiji and Tonga.
Their arrival was a little dramatic, with the pilot of their Qantas plane having to abort an initial landing attempt at Sydney Airport due to another aircraft on the runway.
Just hours later, the couple had glammed up to present awards at the Australian Geographic Society’s annual dinner.
In a speech, Harry urged everyone to do their bit to save the environment, warning “there cannot be any more excuses”.
He quoted extensively from warnings delivered by his father Prince Charles as long ago as the 1970s, saying his words rang true more than ever today. “It is going to take every single one of us to stop the clock on the destruction of our planet, and time is not on our side,” Harry said.
The royal couple are due to head to New Zealand on Sunday, where they will spend four days to wrap up their first major overseas tour since their wedding in May.
The tour marks Harry’s fifth visit to Australia, his last being in June 2017.
By choosing to bring his new wife to Australia for their first major overseas tour, Harry has followed in the footsteps of his parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Charles brought Diana and their nine-month-old son William to Australia for their first official overseas visit in 1983, with massive crowds turning out to see them amid an outbreak of “Di mania”.
Thirty five years on, Australians have been just as welcoming for Harry and Meghan.
One possible reason the pair have proved so endearing is because they haven’t been afraid to break protocol, often holding hands and even hugging members of the public.
