‘IF HARRY HAD ANY SENSE HE’D POSTPONE’

It wasn’t that long ago that Prince Harry’s Invictus Games was one of the highlights of the official royal calendar. Supported by ex-presidents, bolstered by the good will of service personnel all over the world, and even promoted by the Queen herself, the event was an enormous success.

Who could forget the images of Harry and his new girlfriend Meghan Markle in 2017, beaming as they stepped out in public for the first time to cheer on competitors in Toronto?

As a former war correspondent, I have always admired Harry’s commitment to wounded and sick servicemen and women. His motives are genuine and forged from his own experiences while serving in the badlands of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

But there is something rather unsettling about the build-up to this year’s games, the fifth, due to take place at the end of next month in the Netherlands. Not only is this the Duke of Sussex’s first games since he quit royal life (it has already been postponed twice by COVID), but it will inevitably be overshadowed by events elsewhere on mainland Europe.

The games were founded in 2014 by a passionate prince determined to remind the public of the sacrifices made on the battlefields. At the time, the conflict in Afghanistan was winding down and the blood and treasure shed in Iraq had been all but forgotten.

In many ways it gave Harry a focus, a reason to use his profile as an ex-soldier for something entirely positive.

Now everything has changed. There will be members of the Ukrainian team conspicuous by their absence as they are now fighting the Russians instead of taking part. And the sight of veterans from the Afghan National Army wounded while fighting the Taliban alongside Allied troops will only underline President Biden’s decision to withdraw last summer. By pressing ahead with next month’s games, Harry risks the entire event being caught up in political issues.

Then there was the cringeworthy publicity stunt showing Harry larking about dressed head to foot in orange – presumably a nod to this year’s host nation (it’s the national colour). That stunt dropped like a lead balloon at a time when real bombs are raining down on the people of Ukraine.

If he had any sense, Harry would postpone the event until the swathes of civilian refugees no longer need to flee to countries like the Netherlands and the threat of World War Three has gone away.