Prince Harry encountered plenty of A-list pals during the Invictus Games 2025 in Whistler and Vancouver, Canada, including Katy Perry, Michael Bublé, Chris Martin, Jelly Roll and Justin Trudeau (Us sat a few rows behind the Canadian Prime Minister, 53, and the Duke of Sussex, 40, at an indoor rowing match at the Vancouver Convention Center February 16). But Harry’s most cherished time was with the athletes at the seventh Games, which focus on adaptive sports for wounded or injured members of the military, both active duty and veterans.
The duke is now a decade older since he launched the first Games in 2014 — and tells Us Weekly exclusively he has no regrets: “Today, I have the benefit of hindsight and experience, but I wouldn’t change any of it — except still wishing there were no need for the Invictus Games.”
During our chat, which took place after watching his beloved Team UK defeat Team Nigeria during a sitting volleyball semi-final on February 15, Harry explained: “I’m just grateful for the display that they’re putting on, and for being the humans that they are.” The royal also told Us about connecting with other do-gooders. “I was sitting with a couple of new friends of mine from [Ukraine’s] Superhumans Center, where they’re literally putting people back together,” he said. “Prosthetics, psychological support, all of that is pretty incredible!”
Invictus Games Athletes and More Share Heartwarming Interactions With Prince Harry
Rehabilitation and healing — of scars both visible and invisible, from amputations to PTSD — were on Harry’s mind when he founded Invictus following his own experience with combat and trauma during his ten years of military service. “They will continue to have bad days,” Harry concedes of his fellow vets at the competition, some of whom he served with in Afghanistan. “But for this week, the bad days are very limited … because they realize that they’re not isolated, they’re not alone. Everybody around them is carrying something. Once you put all these guys and girls in the same arena, they start sharing each other’s stories and realize that …. there’s nothing wrong with them.”
After a rousing Opening Ceremony, the nine-day Games, the first to feature winter sports, kicked off in earnest in the mountains of Whistler, where both Harry and wife Meghan Markle spectacted skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, skeleton and wheelchair curling — and tried out downhill tubing!
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Best Photos at 2025 Invictus Games
The duchess, 43, “has been part of this community since shortly after the Orlando Games in 2016 and has loved every minute of it,” Harry reveals to Us. “There are so many special memories.”
At the Sydney Games 2018, for instance, Harry recalled getting a “bear hug” from one well-wisher and “my genuine concern that he might try the same with my wife, who was pregnant at the time!” While Meghan went home after the Whistler portion to be with kids Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, she continued to cheer on her man via her newly-launched and extremely active Instagram account. “Yes, the Instagram shout-out was very sweet and much appreciated!” Harry gushed to Us.
Prince Harry Hugs Canada’s Justin Trudeau at 2025 Invictus Games
The 2027 Games, in Birmingham, UK, will be a homecoming in more ways than one for King Charles‘ youngest. “Birmingham for us, is a very, very emotionally connected place. A lot of these guys, they woke up in Birmingham after being blown up in Afghanistan,” Harry explains of the city, whose Queen Elizabeth Hospital is often the first stop for wounded British soldiers.
Whatever Birmingham brings, Harry is ready and open for what comes next. “I’ve learned, evolved, and been shaped by the resilience and brilliance of our Invictus community,” he says. “Serving them and their families remains one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
For more on Prince Harry, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
