Prince Harry Reacts After 2025 Invictus Games Athlete Proposal

Prince Harry offered a special couple some words of support after a proposal took place at the 2025 Invictus Games.

“At Invictus, we provide a space for healing, outstanding athleticism, and in James and his new fiancée’s case, even if you don’t leave with a medal, you could leave with a ring!” Harry, 40, told Hello! Magazine after the proposal on Sunday, February 9.

British athlete James Cairns got down on one knee and proposed to longtime love Hannah Wild after competing for Team U.K. in wheelchair basketball on Sunday.

“Invictus has been my driving force because I’ve been struggling with my mental health,” Cairns, 35, also told Hello! after his romantic moment. “This past year I’ve lost about seven people who died by suicide after battling PTSD.”

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Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted at the 2025 Invictus Games opening ceremony cheering on the competing athletes. Harry, 40, and Meghan, 42, were photographed in the stands as they watched the opening ceremony for the 2025 competition, which began on Saturday, February 8, and was held at […]

Cairns lost his leg to a sniper bullet in October 2011 while fighting in Afghanistan during his time in the Royal Yorks. (He joined the British army in 2008.) He credited Wild for giving him the strength to work through and overcome his mental health struggles.

“It’s been a big toll on me,” he said of losing his friends to suicide. “But it was Hannah that pushed me and gave me the driving force to apply for the Invictus Games, and now we’re here in Canada.”

He and Wild, who called the proposal “a bit of a blur,” share 2-year-old son Arthur.

“It was a yes straight away in my head, but I kept thinking, ‘What are you doing? Why are you doing this to me in front of all these people?’ But it was a proud moment, and it’s the best place that James could have done it because it means so much to him,” Wild told Hello! on Sunday.

This year’s Invictus Games are being held in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada. The competitions kicked off on Saturday, February 8 and are set to run until Sunday, February 16.

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Harry has made headlines for his appearance at the games alongside wife Meghan Markle.

Harry and Meghan, 43, were all smiles throughout the day, with the Duchess of Sussex sharing moments from the games via her Instagram Stories.

The couple were spotted watching the opening ceremony on Saturday, which was held at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. The pair packed on the PDA throughout the ceremony, which featured performances by Katy Perry, Noah Kahan, Nelly Furtado and Roxane Bruneau.

At one point, Meghan could be seen resting her head on Harry’s shoulder. The couple also shared a sweet kiss. Harry also addressed the crowd on Saturday.

“Your leadership did not end when you stepped off the battlefield or took off the uniform,” he said. “It endures. The example you set is a compass for the world. We need you and we’ll always need you.”