ON FORM
Prince Harry ‘makes dig’ at Royal Family’s decision to stop him wearing military uniform as he closes Invictus Games
PRINCE Harry has appeared to make a snipe at the Royal Family's decision to stop him wearing military uniform after Megxit.
Meghan Markle gazed lovingly at hubby as he closed his Invictus Games and recalled his love of bagpipes in a nod to the late Queen.
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Afghan veteran Harry was distraught after he was banned from wearing his ceremonial military uniform because he is no longer a working royal.
Prince William and other royals wore morning suits instead at Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 to spare Harry's blushes.
But he was permitted - against protocol - to don his Blues and Royals No 1 Uniform and medals for a vigil at the late Queen Elizabeth II's vigil at Westminster Hall, last September.
He was stripped of his military titles including Captain General of the Royal Marines when he and Meghan stepped down.
The royal move is believed to have angered the prince who created the games for wounded ex-servicemen.
Harry, 39, took to the stage in Düsseldorf at a star-studded bash including pop princess Rita Ora and Eurovision star Sam Ryder and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Meg did not join Harry on stage and instead sat and watched captivated inside the stadium wearing a blue teal Cult Gaia dress.
Harry told the competitors: "So many of you have told me that hit you right here. For many of you the uniform you’ve been wearing this past week will give you a new story to tell.
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"And for others it may give your old uniform new meaning.
"But I’m here to remind you that after all of this, you don’t need to rely on a uniform, nor should you feel lost without one. Because everything you need is already within you.
Closing his games he deliberately avoided mentioning either the Royal Family or Meghan and their two children - in a speech written to focus on the competitors.
But did sneak in one ditty on his royal life by saying “some of you may know what bagpipes mean to me.”
The prince opened his speech saying 'Danke Schon', which is thank you in German, as he received a standing ovation from the crowd.
He said: "As you have seen and experienced, this week is so much more than a sporting event.
"It is a platform for positive change. The ripple of respect has been felt far and wide and we hope you too are feeling it deeply.
"And I’m sure you’re all physically exhausted - Who wouldn’t be? But I hope you are mentally stronger than when you arrived.
"We may have provided the platform, but you provided the magic. And don’t you ever forget that.
"We’ve all witnessed the true impact sport has had on your recovery and on your post traumatic growth.
"But You will never truly know the impact your actions this week have had on millions of people around the world.
"You have opened people’s hearts, through your vulnerability, through your resilience and through your sheer abilities.
"You have shown us that joy can emerge from struggle, and for that we are eternally grateful.
"A week ago I stood here and told you about the significance of being able to wear your nations flag again.
"So many of you have told me that hit you right here. For many of you the uniform you’ve been wearing this past week will give you a new story to tell.
"And for others it may give your old uniform new meaning.
"But I’m here to remind you that after all of this, you don’t need to rely on a uniform, nor should you feel lost without one. Because everything you need is already within you.
"Tomorrow you will each walk away with memories that are different and unique to you. But my hope is that every memory made brings a smile to your face through a sense of belonging, and an opportunity for you and your family to look forward, with pride and with purpose.
"Yesterday I met with Master Corporal James Gendron from the Canadian team in the Invictus 2025 tent. While we were chatting, I noticed bagpipes lying on the floor in the far corner.
"Some of you may know what bagpipes mean to me, so I couldn’t help but hope they’d be played.
"Little did I know that thirty minutes later, it would be James picking them up and offering to play - yet I had NO idea what they meant to him.
"Nor did I know what memories they triggered for him. In Afghanistan he played 63 ramp ceremonies. For 63 caskets. For 63 souls. For 63 families.
"For four years after that last ceremony, he couldn’t touch them.
"This week he wasn’t sure whether he could bring himself to play them. But he did.
"What had once haunted him, dare I say it, may now be what helps heal him.
"Thank you James, for your service, for your courage, for sharing your gift.
"So many of you and your loved ones have been to the darkest places imaginable. But your mission to heal and grow has been a shining example to us all.
"You’ve shown us the power in not defining people by assumption, their backstory or past pain - but rather instead on their ability, how they show up, and who they are in the present.
"After this week, know that you are all leading the way for defining human potential and human decency.
"We value you, we need you, and the world does too.
"Next year – we’ve got a lot to look forward to - The Invictus Games Foundation 10-year anniversary – yes, 10 years. And then it’s off to Vancouver Whistler 2025.. bring it on."
Harry had written extensively about bagpipes - which play a huge role in the life of the Royal Family - in his book Spare.
Lone pipers also played at the funeral of the late Queen and Prince Philip.
Pipe Major Paul Burns played a haunting lament to signal the end of Queen Elizabeth II's committal at St George's Chapel, in Windsor, a year ago Tuesday
And in April 2021, Pipe Major Colour Sergeant Peter Grant played Flowers of the Forest as his coffin was lowered into a vault at the chapel.
Writing in bomshell memoir Spare describing the morning his father told him at Balmoral Diana had died, Harry said: "I must've remained in that room, saying nothing, seeing no one, until 9am sharp, when the piper began to play outside.
"I wish I could remember what he played. But maybe it doesn't matter. With bagpipes it's not the tune, it's the tone.
"Thousands of years old, bagpipes are built to amplify what's already in the heart. If you're feeling silly, bagpipes make you sillier. If you're angry, bagpipes bring your blood to a higher boil."
The Duchess of Sussex earlier in the day joined Harry on stage for a medal presentation at the stadium's
And sat with around a dozen children in the friends and family section of the arena in Dusseldorf and read Rosie Revere's book Engineer.
The couple's star-studded farewell comes after Harry opened the games last Saturday night with a speech where he declared "Ich bin ein Dusseldorfer".
During the week he has only ventured into the German city to stay at his 1,600 euro a-night hotel and one dinner out with Meghan for his 39th birthday.
Harry has spent a vast amount of time at the games complex with Meghan Markle in tow.
The Duchess spoke during a speech she gave at a reception for competitors and their families at Dusseldorf Airport just hours after landing.
Speaking on stage, she apologised for "being a little late to the party" but when she appeared at sporting events got into the spirit of the games by singing along to Sweet Caroline, presenting medals and sipping a beer.
Earlier today Meghan carried out the last of her official engagements when she hosted a private children's reading session.
She read from the book 'Rosie Revere, Engineer' by Andrea Beaty - which follows a young girl with the dream of becoming an engineer.
In his opening ditty, Harry also remarked that Meghan would be supporting Nigeria after claiming she was 43 per cent Nigerian.
Meg sat with Nigeria fans during the sitting volleyball and was surrounded by people waving mobile phones asking for selfies.
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The couple are now set to jet back and see their two children Archie, 4, and two-year-old Lilibet, in California.
There are no plans to visit or meet any members of the Royal Family in the UK on their way home.
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