The Duke of Sussex was in The Hague today to attend the ‘One year to go Invictus Games The Hague 2020’ event. Prince Harry arrived at the Sportcampus in the Zuiderpark in The Hague and began with a basketball training session. He tried his hand at archery and managed to hit a bullseye. He learned more about the preparations that are underway and met with several potential competitors. During a speech, Prince Harry said, “Make these Games your own. We chose you for a reason. And not just because I like the colour orange.” Afterwards, he rode a bicycle around the Zuiderpark to see how the preparations are going.
Prince Harry also met up with Princess Margriet, King Willem-Alexander’s aunt, who is the Honorary Chair of the
Recommendation Committee of the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, and the mayor of The Hague, Pauline Krikke. Princess Margriet greeted the Duke with three kisses and well-wishes for his newborn son Archie. Later on, he also received a special Invictus Games onesie from Princess Margriet.
The Invictus Games 2020 will run from 9 May until 16 May 2020 with over 500 competitors from 19 countries in nine adaptive sports events. The year 2020 also marks 75 years since the end of the Second World War and the rebuilding of the city of The Hague. The Invictus Games 2020 is thus a great opportunity to link the past and the present.
When it was announced that The Hague would be the next host city, The Duke of Sussex said, “I am delighted to announce that The Hague is taking up the challenge of hosting the 5th #InvictusGames. The city will soon become the motivation for hundreds of servicemen and women using the Games to inspire their recovery from physical and mental injuries.”
He also commented via the Kensington Palace Twitter, “The Netherlands has supported the Games from the very beginning, & I know that everyone there will fully get behind & support the soldiers & veterans who have served their countries so bravely” and “We have already seen in London, Orlando, and Toronto just how exciting hosting the #InvictusGames can be, and I know this will be an incredible experience for everyone in The Hague @InvictusGamesNL as they embrace the Invictus spirit in 2020.”
