Harry’s revenge game will harm Invictus

THE Invictus Games for wounded servicemen and women is arguably the jewel in Prince Harry’s crown.

This remarkable creation – his brainchild – helps those left physically or mentally scarred as a result of their military duties to come to terms with their trauma, rebuild their lives and achieve their goals.

The athletes’ determination to overcome terrible injuries – as inspirational as their conduct on the battlefield – also shines an important spotlight on how shabbily our politicians often treat our veterans.

What a tragedy it is that, through his grotesque and dangerous outburst about killing 25 Taliban in Afghanistan, the prince has now imperilled the safety of future games and all the heroic competitors.

Murderous jihadists worldwide will be provoked to wreak vengeance by Harry’s boasts of his ‘body count’.

He has not only substantially increased the risk to himself, his family and the Armed Forces. The Duke of Sussex has also pinned a massive target on to any event to which he is linked. And none has a higher profile than the Invictus Games.

experts warn that security will need to be stepped up significantly – and at huge cost – in Dusseldorf in September.

Will spectators buy tickets if terrorists are intent on carnage? And what about the veterans? Having already been maimed by the enemy, won’t they think twice about putting themselves in harm’s way again?

Harry should have followed the excellent example set by Invictus participants and not whinged about his misfortunes.

Instead, with his unfathomably naïve remarks, he may have damaged his greatest achievement. If so, the fortune he has banked from his tawdry memoir will ultimately seem valueless.