Prince Harry tries his hand at soccer while in Germany for the 2023 Invictus Games.
On Saturday, the Duke of Sussex (38) appeared on a TV show Das aktuelle Sportstudio on the German channel ZDF after the opening ceremony of the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf. As well as discussing games, Harry also took part in a football challenge which was not as easy as it seemed.
In footage from the show shared on social media, Prince Harry and German Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, along with Angel Anderson and Jens Niemeyer, took turns trying to kick a soccer ball through one of two holes in the studio wall. set.
According to a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) from the German Embassy in London, the shooting game has been part of the TV show for a long time.
“What happens if it’s zero,” asked the duke before the host told him he would have to wear a German shirt if he lost.
Prince Harry says he is ‘nervous’ as he marks the one-month countdown to the Invictus Games Germany in a new video
Prince Harry then started his shots briskly, but unfortunately, his first three attempts were unsuccessful, so he handed the ball to Pistorius, who hit twice. After the other contestants had their turn, Harry missed three more shots.
Instead of a German jersey, the duke was provided with a scarf from the local German club, FSV Mainz 05, which he happily put on with great applause from the audience.
Elsewhere on the show, Prince Harry spoke about the impact of the founding of the Games. “To be honest with you, setting up the Invictus Games was the lifeline for me,” he told talkSPORT. “I didn’t realize it at first, but being in this community, I heard a lot of stories, there were a lot of similarities.”
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The Duke – who served in the British Army for 10 years and served two tours in Afghanistan – created the competition in 2014 for veterans and military personnel.
This year, the event was held in Germany for the first time. The Invictus Games have previously been held in London (2014), Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017), Sydney (2018) and The Hague (2022). In 2025, the Invictus Games will return to North America and be held in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada.
At this year’s event, which runs from September 9 to 16, more than 500 athletes from 21 countries will demonstrate their skills in 10 different sports. Contestants represent six continents — all but Antarctica.
“I can’t wait for every continent to be represented – except Antarctica. We’re still working on that,” Harry said in a video message last month.
Getty Images for Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023.
Joern Pollex/Getty for Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023
Ahead of Saturday’s televised appearance, the Duke of Sussex gave a speech at the opening ceremony in which he talked about self-discovery, teamwork and even a bit of family life.
During the speech, he acknowledged the three nations joining the Invictus Games for the first time – Colombia, Israel and Nigeria – and how Nigeria has fans in his home. Specifically, Meghan Markle’s wife.
“I’m not saying we play favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered she’s of Nigerian descent, she’ll probably get little a little more competitive this year,” he said, referring to Meghan’s revelation that she is 43% Nigerian through a genealogy test last year.
Elsewhere, Harry spoke of how veterans taking part are “part of a team again” and “surrounded by people who know what it means to serve”.
“But I was thinking about something that one of the contestants presented in Heart of Invictus divided. Mr Na from South Korea said: ‘I don’t think we are overcoming disability. We overcome the perception of ourselves in society.’ These games aren’t just about medals,” he continued. “They’re about overcoming any and all perceptions that have held you back, especially those you’ve placed on yourself.”
Last month, limited edition Heart of Invictus premiered on Netflix. The show highlighted the stories of the athletes and what the Invictus Games mean to them.
Prince Harry jokes about his ‘competitive’ household during Invictus Games Empowering speech: ‘I’m not saying we’re favourites’
A spokesman for Prince Harry confirmed in August that he would be in Germany for the duration of the event – which includes his 39th birthday next Friday. Meghan Markle is due to join her husband in the coming days.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to attend the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf. The Duke will be in attendance throughout the games and will be joined by the Duchess shortly after the Games begin,” the spokesperson said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
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Prince Harry and Meghan famously made their debut as a couple at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where she lived while filming Suits. Meghan has supported Invictus ever since, attending the games in Sydney with her husband in 2018 (just days after Kensington Palace announced she was pregnant with their first child, Prince Archie) and in the Netherlands last spring.
She graced the stage both times, delivering remarks at the Invictus 2018 closing ceremony and introducing Harry at the opening ceremony in April 2022, where they shared a sweet kiss.
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Source: HIS Education