Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Afghan veteran who will share the joy on his friend’s big day
AN Invictus Games gold medallist who met Prince Harry just four years ago has been invited to all three parts of his wedding day.
John-james Chalmers, 31, who suffered facial and arm injuries in an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2011, will be in St George’s Chapel with wife Kornelia and they will also attend the two receptions after the ceremony.
It will be in stark contrast to the last royal wedding, when JJ listened on a wind-up radio in Afghanistan as Prince William took his vows.
JJ, who was a Lance Corporal with the Royal Marines, met Harry in June 2014 at a rehabilitation triathlon. The prince persuaded him to enter the first Invictus Games that September and JJ won gold in a cycling event.
Since then, he has found himself gradually welcomed into Harry’s inner circle. JJ, who has a daughter, said: “I’m just happy my friend is settling down with somebody. So many of our other friends are all settled down and have kids, so he needs to catch up.
“It’s fantastic to see that he’s been able to find someone, because I’ve been able to see what his life is like over the last four years and he works extremely hard, it’s very hectic.”
JJ said he would be pinching himself when he is in the chapel as the world watches. He said: “I’ll be thinking about the fact that seven years previously, at the last wedding, I was listening to it on a wind-up radio in Afghanistan.
“The idea that somehow my life has gone from that to this is so incredible. I will also be sitting there going, ‘Have a good day, mate.’
“I sit here thinking ‘Prince Harry’s my friend.’ Every time I see him, I have fun. It’s going to be awesome, a cracking day.”
He added about Meghan: “She’s remarkable. He can share the burden with somebody, the good and the bad.”