Double amputee war hero who inspired Prince Harry to start Invictus 'disagrees' with Duke's claim British press did not cover stories of wounded in Afghanistan as Colonel says his popularity is dwindling with veterans

[MamoruHisaishi]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12466191/Afghanistan-war-hero-prince-harry-british-soldiers.html

I agree. I haven’t rtft to find the one you quoted but @mpsw makes good points

I think they may have some people from MoD and RBL (the organisation that did the logistics for the British team)

I doubt v much anyone else from Government will go - they don't seem to travel for big sporting events (except the major men's tournaments like football)

I can't find where I read it now, but will try, but I think you're correct. MoD & RBL members as you said, also I think I read the UK Ambassador to Germany will be there (so very similar to whom the US is sending).

I haven't read about any of the Senior Working RF attending - but thanks to the last 3 years I don't think that comes as a surprise to anyone.

I wasn't expecting any member of the RF to attend, but it would be nice if they could send a message of support to the UK veterans participating. Charles being Head of the Armed Forces an' all. I think it will look awful if he doesn't. Nothing to do with Harry but the brave UK competitors amongst 22 nations competing etc.

Well Prince Harry is attending so that is the member of the RF attending.

And we don’t know if King Charles or indeed any other member of the RF have sent private messages of support. Just quietly. Privately.

After all, not everything has to be all about them an’ all.

Not everything has to be about who? The RF? Or H&M? I don't understand.

I am talking about a public message of support from the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to wounded, injured and sick Veterans from the Armed Forces competing in Games alongside 22 other nations.
That's it

Could that look as if they were muscling in on Harry's role, i.e. jumping on the bandwagon?

I agree. I think that it would look like they are trying to upstage Harry. Invictus is his thing and always has been. I don’t think that the King not sending a public message of support says anything about him not caring about the veterans or the games. It says more that he is aware that this is Harry’s territory. Maybe if relations were better between them, then a message of support would have been sent. As it is, it would probably be seen as treading on Harry’s toes.

Being a veteran, I know who the commander in chief is. Whether the message is public (or has also been known, private), it will be cheering to those involved.

They may wish not to detract from PH’s involvement/spotlight or indeed upset him because this is his venture.

That could be it.

Ah. Cross post @smilesy .

Thank you for saying it better.

At least I managed not to make any references to rear ends this time 😂

I hope that's the reason

Being Commander in Chief of the armed forces is very important to the King, as it was to his mother. I can’t imagine he would deliberately snub anything that involves veterans, unless it was for a very good reason, and not stealing Harry’s limelight would presumably be one such reason for him, especially as it is not unreasonable to assume that Harry could take offence.

I agree about the potential for Harry taking offence at just about anything, but am honestly not sure why a simple "good luck" message should cause problems - as has been said they are after all Charles's servicepeople

Maybe he really has already messaged them privately, but otherwise what's wrong with a brief comment about "thinking of you all and wishing you all the best"?

I agree. Sending a message to the Invictus Games Foundation directly would be the right thing to do. Just my opinion

Nothing wrong with a public message at all. And there is still time.

It must be very hard when eggshells are involved with every step and when things you do/don’t do/say/don’t say get scrutinised and criticised.

There is still time for an Invictus message but whether he does it privately or in public, he will no doubt be criticised by some.

And maybe today, he is remembering his mum.

Did the Queen used to do it?

Absolutely, IMO it would immediately be picked up as trying to step on Harry's toes.

IG is very much his baby.

Can we just be clear that 'commander in chief' is a term used in the US describing the president's military powers. There's no royal equivalent in the UK.

I used the term as it is used on Forces.net which appears to be British based. We all know what we mean anyway
https://www.forces.net/king-charles/look-kings-first-year-commander-chief-armed-forces

He is Head of the armed forces and also referred to as Commander in ChiefSee the RF website . Also relative in armed forces refers to him as such. I appreciate he holds no actual decision making capability 😊(edited to add a bit, smiley face meant in a friendly way)

I think it’s fine for Harry to make it his thing. He’s part of the RF anyway

Did the Queen used to do it?

Good question

They couldn't do that! Harry would see it as a direct snub for all his hard work etc.

He has made his bed. Sadly the rf cannot do right for doing wrong. Better to back off amd leave him to it. We all know they will of course support the participants, aren't there pictures of W and Charies actually attending with H years ago before he decided the rf were all horrid bullies who never supported him eva?

I remember a video message she did with Harry in response to a US team video.

I don't think she attended any games or made a public message about it.

Harry was the RF representative.

I agree with you.

Baffling that they don't, especially since they recently handed out a bunch of positions, and will soon be wearing medals and laying wreaths...