In an unexpected twist, Prince Harry made an appearance at the NBA Finals game in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday evening. The matchup between the Knicks and the Spurs marked their fifth encounter, and the royal’s presence added a touch of surprise to the event.
Casual yet composed, the Duke of Sussex entered the arena alone, sporting a navy polo shirt, matching pants, and a baseball cap. His relaxed attire reflected the informal nature of his visit, as he was seen enjoying the game without his wife, Meghan Markle.
Accompanying Prince Harry was JP Lane, a US Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, who is set to participate in his first Invictus Games in Birmingham, UK, next year. The pair’s camaraderie highlighted Harry’s ongoing support for veterans and the Invictus Games, a cause close to his heart.
According to sources from Page Six, Prince Harry traveled to San Antonio primarily for the Warrior Games and received a special invitation to the NBA game from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. This gesture underscores Harry’s connections and commitment to military and sports events.
Notably absent from the royal Trooping the Colour in London on the same day, Harry and Meghan have distanced themselves from royal duties since stepping back in 2020. Their absence from the traditional celebration highlights their ongoing separation from official royal engagements.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, is just the latest in a long list of celebrities to attend the best of 7 series. Knicks megafans including Mariska Hargitay, Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and Michael J Fox have been spotted cheering on their team from the sidelines as the showdown continues to heat up.
Taylor Swift made a conspicuous appearance at Game 4 on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, where she wore matching custom punny blue and orange Knicks-themed shirts alongside Hargitay, and Este and Alana Haim.
Wednesday’s game turned out to be a historic match, with the Knicks coming from behind with a narrow comeback win of 107 to 106 — a victory Hargitay later said was more thrilling than her wedding night with Peter Hermann.
The Duke of Sussex’s surprise visit to the most highly anticipated NBA game of the year comes amid a busy summer.
He celebrated his eighth anniversary with wife Meghan Markle in May with a sweet sculpture of two penguins nuzzling each other in honor of their lifelong commitment.
In July, the father of two is expected to head to the U.K. to promote his upcoming 2027 Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham.
Sources recently told Page Six that he won’t be seeing his brother, Prince William — though he’s said to be “desperate” to bring children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to visit their grandfather King Charles.
The insiders stressed that “no firm plans have been made” and that Harry is focused first and foremost on the Invictus event.