Prince Harry said leaving the British Army caused him to lose “part of [his] purpose and identity.”
The Duke of Sussex served in the British military for 10 years, from 2005 to 2015. He revisited that experience—and explained how it led to the creation of the Invictus Games—during a surprise virtual address to NATO’s Military Committee at its Brussels headquarters on Thursday.
Harry opened by thanking committee members for welcoming him back after his previous virtual appearance in October 2024, according to People.
“A great deal has changed since then. But what has not changed is the common ground between NATO and Invictus — and my belief that there is far more we can do together,” the 42-year-old said.
“Because at its heart, NATO is an alliance of nations,” he continued. “But those nations are defended by people. People who volunteer to serve. People who train together, deploy together, fight together and in many cases, recover together.”
He also recognized the families who support military personnel, often without acknowledgment, as well as those who eventually return home.
Harry addressed the limited support many service members receive when they leave the military and adjust to civilian life.
“I know something about that transition,” he said. “When I hung up my uniform, I felt as though I had lost not simply a profession, but part of my purpose and identity.”
Harry said he was “fortunate” that, as a member of the royal family, he had “another way to serve.” He used that opportunity to establish the Invictus Games and help others “find their way forward.”
“Invictus is not a sporting event. Sport is one of our tools. Our mission is much bigger,” he explained. “We rebuild purpose. We rebuild confidence. We strengthen families and communities. We connect veterans back into society.”
The initiative also increasingly brings countries together to share lessons on recovery, rehabilitation, mental health and life after military service, he added.
Harry emphasized that wounded and injured veterans need sustained support as they move beyond military life.
“They may never wear the uniform again. But they can still lead. They can still serve. They can still strengthen their community and their country. And they can become some of the most credible role models we have — particularly for the next generation,” he said.
“That is character built from service, values embedded in one’s blood,” he continued. “That is the Invictus Spirit.”
He said the organization is working to build a global movement that transforms the experiences of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and their families into stronger communities, improved systems and more resilient nations.
Harry also made a surprise appearance at a black-tie gala in London on Thursday, adding to his recent public engagements after returning to the United Kingdom with his wife, Meghan Markle.
The Duke attended the United for Freedom Gala at the Imperial War Museum, where he was photographed smiling and waving to guests while wearing a sleek navy tuxedo.
According to the Daily Mail, the event raised funds for charities supporting Ukraine during its ongoing war with Russia.
During the fundraiser, Harry, 42, spoke about his recent trips to Ukraine and the people he encountered there.
“I have seen something in Ukraine that makes it impossible for me look away,” he said. “I have met people who have lost limbs, lost homes and lost loved ones — and yet somehow find the strength to rebuild.”
Harry highlighted the determination of Ukrainians who have continued to defend their country while maintaining schools, businesses and other parts of everyday life.
He also pointed to their efforts to “develop technology that is changing the nature of modern warfare.”
“But their resilience should never become an excuse for the rest of us to tolerate their suffering,” he said. “Ukrainians should not have to prove, year after year, just how much they can endure.
“Their courage deserves more than our admiration. It deserves our resolve.”
More recently, Harry attended the Clinton Global Initiative’s annual meeting in New York City last month, where he delivered remarks about the dangers of artificial intelligence.
His speech was cut short about seven minutes in due to a technical failure, and he returned to the stage roughly 40 minutes later.
“Hello again,” he said, joking that “AI got into [his] speech” before adding that it would be “interesting to see what it was so concerned about in part two.”
Harry’s first official outing since returning to the UK with Markle came Sept. 17, when he stepped out solo for the Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner & Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London.
When asked how he, Markle and their children — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — were settling back into life in Britain, Harry replied, “Good. It’s good to be back on British soil.”
Harry was first seen publicly after the family of four touched down in the UK in late August at Tower Bridge Studios in London, where he was photographed signing the wall with a Sharpie in photos shared by the facility on Instagram at the time.