WeAreInvictus - X

[ConstantGarden1]

A fitting endorsement from Fred Hargreaves OBE who on X wrote, “As ever, a genuine and heart-felt speech from the Duke of Sussex - the driving force and passion behind the #InvictusGames. So good to see this Award, and share the stage with Elizabeth, Kirsty and Israel.”

From the Royal Website, how the ‘driving force’ - Harry - brought Invictus into being:

https://www.royal.uk/invictus-games

Positive Harry posts have been flooding X. Haters were out too. Some negatively posting in a quasi-forensic manner. No ‘gotcha’ revelations, however, nor tens of thousands of likes which the repost of Harry’s speech on ESPN by the knowledgeable Robert Griffin III now has. In less than 2 days 51+K likes and still rising.

I also checked out some (too many) #Sussexsquad posters. It revealed teachers, veterans, different nationalities, colours, creeds, nurses, retired folk etc etc. Thus I formed a completely different understanding about the use of the hashtag to support the Sussex family. There were also very strange users of the hashtag too. The hashtag was additionally utilised to send the message out on X to put the anti-Harry and Meghan posters or ‘derangers’, as they are often called, on mute and not to engage. Quite a restrained and civil position to promote and many did just that. Invictus awareness was successfully brought to those who had never heard of the international fraternity of veterans with disabilities and injuries by this hashtag alone.

Watching the videos on X I saw Harry speak with sincerity and humility under pressure. His words, “The truth is, I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient, but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel from over 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality. This award belongs to them. Not to me.”

Harry has now been awarded, by a very diverse online presence, a new respect. And I do believe he’s also a jolly good fellow…and so say many, many, many of us. 😊💙

I am so glad I went on my very new X twitter account for I was disgusted with the Daily Mail’s use of Pat Tillman’s mother to denigrate Prince Harry as it was totally uncalled for. Call it for what it was - a hit piece of journalism designed to create a mini storm online. We know nothing about the context of how they obtained words supposedly said by Pat’s mother about Harrry. I was aghast too at how Pat’s widow has also been treated by some online posters. Her foundation may not be perfect but she does more than anyone to honour him. Pat’s mother also did not go on any mainstream American media either where her complaints would have been listened to and would have provided the much needed context for the hate motivated article by a newspaper under the spotlight for its nefarious journalism and click bait articles about Harry.

Harry’s response was beautiful. The way Harry acknowledged Pat’s mother went further than him being a royal. It was a standout out moment of what being human is all about. I do believe he’s also a jolly good fellow…and so say many, many, many of us. 😊💙

@smilesy Harry never told her that visiting care homes in Dudley and the like is the bread and butter of royal service. Not a life for someone who only wants the camera on her and to monetise her fame. Not the life for someone disinterested in other people, particularly lowly Brits. It was the same for Sarah Ferguson too.

@Puzzledandpissedoff Meghan never told him that Hollywood royalty is a different animal altogether. Nobody else is going to do it for you. There are no courtiers to come up with your ideas for Spotify. You have to hustle, and yes, grift. If you have no innate talent that’s going to catapult you to the top, that’s what you have to do. It’s not for those used to being handed everything on a silver platter. I can see why Harry is happier at Invictus than anywhere else, because it’s the one place where the model of his old life seems to still apply.

So it's not just the British press? That's a surprise not.

It never was just the British press. Which is why Netflix had to make up headlines and use footage from a Harry Potter premier and a Katie Price court appearance to make it look as though the press was after them.

Exactly
I have twitter blocked can't read the link, but I suppose they could always try suing the US media too? I'd say good luck with that given the First Amendment, but Harry's already told us what he thinks about this so it would be deeply fascinating to see him present as some sort of constitutional expert in court

I’ve screenshot it for you @Puzzledandpissedoff 😊

I’d buy the popcorn for that.

Very many thanks, @MummyJ12; as you rightly suggested it's twitter so not to be relied on, but would certainly be all of a piece with their attitude of "It's everyone else's fault for being nasty to us and not our doing at all"

Maybe we really will see Harry suing the US media, which would be entertaining if nothing else

Edited to add that if there's any truth in him "wanting to go back" that would probably involve losing the children - which is what I meant about having painted himself into a corner

Those were the days when he didn't have to even think, let alone worry, about money.

Bob Dylan has it too:

Slow Train Coming.

Just frustrating exactly how slow 🙄

"There is a sense of real frustration particularly surrounding Invictus Games. Harry thinks that’s the only positively good thing left he is got and the press is refusing to highlight the work while bashing him constantly"

What work?

Again - apart from turning up (for a fee) at the games and pre-games, what does Harry do for IG? In the last published accounts I could access, the Chairman's report showed £2m in donations. A paltry sum for an organisation with such a high-profile patron.

If I were looking for a money pit, I'd start legal proceedings against the American press for slander and libel.

Perhaps he's trying to scare them into silence, pre-empt any investigation into the Visa application allegations.

The New York Post (until Kate's brilliantly managed return) was regularly running puff pieces for the Sussexes, though.

And a good chunk of that money came from Catherine and William’s Royal Foundation. The Games are funded through the host country using tax payer’s money. £26m was being mooted for a Birmingham games. I’d much rather that money went to grass roots causes for all veterans, helping them to access homes, jobs and healthcare. The (small in number) Invictus competitors don’t even get their expenses paid by the Invictus Foundation, I don’t think, they have to self fund. It’s a lovely cause, but it does feel like it is not all that it is cracked up to be.

Perhaps he's trying to scare them into silence ...

If that's true then he's utterly failed to understand the American mindset, especially when it's coming from someone who's very position is anathema to many of them

Those were the days when he didn't have to even think, let alone worry, about money

And yes this is true, @Rhaidimiddim, but then the real world can be a harsh place for those not accustoimed to it and whining won't change that

apart from turning up (for a fee) at the games and pre-games, what does Harry do for IG?

I don't know if he's paid a fee, @Rhaidimiddim - have they ever said? - but guess what he really does is to lend the whole thing a higher profile than it would otherwise have

Trouble is, when that profile becomes tarnished by H&M's behaviour it can start to work the other way, which is why many are starting to feel they'd do better with someone else
But of course that's their decision to make ...

I have seen references to appearance fees before, but don’t ask me where. For me, it’s his (and Meghan’s) expenses that need a lot of transparency.

but guess what he really does is to lend the whole thing a higher profile than it would otherwise have

I suppose we are back to what royalty do again. Invictus was formed to raise the profile of injured veterans and to form a community around sports with the support of Harry as a member of the RF. It now seems to be completely the other way round

Totally agree.

I haven’t seen the same puff pieces in the NYP as have been run in their favoured publications of People, She Knows and Vogue.
The New York Post can be pretty brutal too.

And a patron is supposed to raise money for the charity, as well as promote its brand. Again, we see the opposite here - Harry raiding the coffers as an attendance allowance (I believe - it would be nice to have it confirmed or denied by someone - IG, are you reading this?), not holding fund-raisers or doing anything apparent to raise funds for the day-to-day work of the charity, and tarnishing its brand.

In the last published accounts I could access, the Chairman's report showed £2m in donations. A paltry sum for an organisation with such a high-profile patron

I noticed the same, Mymilkshake, and Harry's high profile certainly doesn't seem to have done a lot for Invictus it terms of donations - especially if a chunk of that sum's what was said to have been given by the Waleses

So they're left with - what? A higher profile because of the attention he attracts?
A double edged sword I'd say, because while some of the media coverage is silly clickbait, a lot now isn't as more things come to light and H&M's behaviour becomes ever more ill judged in a search for relevance

People would need to be wearing some heavy tinted rose glasses to believe that the Nigeria Invictus trip highlighted invictus more than the Sussexes themselves. If anything the trip should have involved the charity organisation rather than or alongside the patron. I suppose it’s what is Invictus endgame, the Warrior games does not appear to rely upon the founders. The stoke manderville games for injured soldiers became (or inspired) the Paralympic Games but again the real legacy is an initiative that has stood the test of time. A gap again was required due to recent conflicts and the technological advances in wheelchairs and blades make it extremely difficult for wounded soldiers to compete with Paralympicians. So the warrior and Invictus was born. The idea that Invictus relies upon Harry is not a positive and I’m not sure it it’s true. Invictus has some problems on the horizon. I’m hoping Birmingham isn’t successful as I cannot see Israel athletes going down well. If there is problems in Canada will Harry be the spokesperson or will it be the CEO. Similar to African parks in you want the applause you should also be there to answer the questions.

Talking about royals raising money for charity, Prince William just participated in a polo event that was a joint effort of US and UK polo players to raise money for UK charities:

www.abc27.com/business/press-releases/accesswire/889075/u-s-polo-assn-proudly-partners-with-the-2024-outsourcing-inc-royal-charity-polo-cup/

If there is problems in Canada will Harry be the spokesperson or will it be the CEO. Similar to African parks in you want the applause you should also be there to answer the questions

You said it yourself, @Vespanest; going by the response (or lack of it) to Africa Parks I'd say it's pretty obvious that problems are for other people but praise is Harry's to enjoy

Not that he's alone in that where the RF are concerned ...

Nigeria wasn't even about the Sussexes in the end - it became all about her 43% Nigerian heritage.