Prince Harry has met Barack Obama at the White House, where they discussed issues facing veterans including challenging the stigma around mental injury.
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Harry traveled Washington to promote the 2016 Invictus Games, an worldwide sporting competition for wounded servicemen set to take place in Florida next year.
The President even jokingly said that Harry got to know Michelle Obama very well as FLOTUS and The Royal had visited the USO Warrior and Family Center at the Fort Belvoir military base in Virginia.
During his stop at the base, the prince, the first lady and Biden sat courtside at a wheelchair basketball game.
“I guess I should apologize in advance for all the gold medals that America will win in Orlando”, the first lady teased, addressing a crowd of veterans and their families gathered in the sports hall of Fort Belvoir.
Harry’s comments came during a visit with Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the wife of United States vice-president Joe Biden, to a military centre providing care and rehab for wounded USA veterans.
The Prince gave a speech highlighting the upcoming Invictus Games.
“To have the opportunity to go to the Invictus Games, for me it’s a physical healing, but it’s a mental healing as well”, he told AFP.
“It is a testament to the special relationship, the incredible bond that we share between our two countries, and that bond continues into the next generation of leadership that His Royal Highness represents”, Obama said after speaking to the Prince.
Harry said: “I am in no doubt that my two deployments to Afghanistan changed the direction of my life”. The First Lady made her the envy of all women when she was able to enfold the fifth in line to the throne in a warm hug.
“But I have to admit, we both ended up cheering for all the athletes”.
Harry said that he realized he had a responsibility to help veterans “lead healthy and dignified lives after service” while he was traveling home from his first deployment Afghanistan with three critically injured British soldiers.
Harry struck a mostly stoic tone, distancing himself from the reputation he earned in his 20s as a wild child.
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Following Harry’s whirlwind visit to the US, he is set to return to the U.K.in time for the Rugby World Cup Final, where he is confirmed to hand out the Webb Ellis Cup to the winners on Saturday evening.
