by Christos Zampounis

When ten years ago Prince Henry, Duke of Sussex — our well-known Harry — founded his own charitable foundation, with the primary aim of caring for war-wounded British and American soldiers, no one could have imagined what was to follow. Third in line to the Throne, after his father Charles and his brother William, he had displayed rare qualities in the war in Afghanistan, having been promoted to the rank of Major. His wartime experiences are described extensively in his book Spare, with certain unnecessary details, such as, for example, the number of enemies he eliminated (25 Taliban). Beyond the light-hearted approach to such a serious matter, the organization of athletic games under the title Invictus Games, connecting the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers with sport, catapulted his popularity — until Meghan entered his life. Invictus, in Latin, means “unconquered.” In Henley’s poem, the word dominates, defining the hero who does not bend before adversity. Science raises its hands in despair in attempting to explain the reasons that later led him to sever ties with the British royal family and move first to Canada and then to California. Yesterday, after years of coldness, he appeared at the door of Clarence House, the official residence of King Charles, and had tea with his father. The occasion for his visit was the upcoming Invictus Games, to be held in the United Kingdom from July 10 to 17, 2027. Only this time, it was the royal institution that emerged “invictus” from the battle.