A pregnant Duchess Catherine was unable to join Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla at the official opening ceremony for the Invictus Games in London due to extreme morning sickness, but the rest of the royals seem to have had a rollicking good time!
A pregnant Duchess Catherine was unable to join Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla at the official opening ceremony for the Invictus Games in London due to extreme morning sickness, but the rest of the royals seem to have had a rollicking good time!
Related: Palace confirms Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting second child
Poor Duchess Catherine has been laying low since the Palace announced her pregnancy earlier this week, but not because she doesn’t want to be out celebrating the happy news! As with her first pregnancy, the Duchess is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum which can result in prolonged and severe nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss and low blood pressure.
Related: Duchess Kate suffering extreme morning sickness again
So while she is being treated by doctors at home at Kensington Palace, other royals including Prince William, Charles and Camilla came out to support Prince Harry and the sporting event that he has been passionately championing, the Invictus Games, at the event’s opening ceremony in London.
Related: Duchess Catherine knew she’d risk severe morning sickness – went ahead anyway
The Games are an international event designed to celebrate the achievements of servicemen, where wounded military veterans will compete in Paralympic-style events. Harry, who is of course an ex-serviceman himself, has been passionately advocating for the Games in the lead up to the launch
Related: Prince Harry’s gone with the wind at Invictus Games event
His big brother William and father Charles and step-mother Camilla looked on with great pride as Harry addressed the competitors and military serviceman who marched into Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Click through the gallery to see all the pictures from Harry’s big day.
Related: William, Catherine & Harry attend Commonwealth Games
A pregnant Duchess Catherine was unable to join Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla at the official opening ceremony for the Invictus Games in London due to extreme morning sickness, but the rest of the royals seem to have had a rollicking good time!
Charles and Camilla looked on proudly at Prince Harry who had been passionately advocating in the lead up to the event, as spokesperson for the Invictus Games, where wounded military veterans will compete in Paralympic-style events.
Harry, who is of course an ex-serviceman himself, addressed the crowd. “Over the past eight years, I have witnessed the whole cycle of life-changing injury; evacuating soldiers and local Afghans to hospital; flying home from Afghanistan with some of those critically injured; meeting others in hospital coming to terms with life-changing injuries; and finally trying to keep up with 12 wounded veterans on our way to the south pole. I can only begin to imagine how challenging the journey of recovery is, but the admiration I have for these men and women, to move beyond their injuries, is limitless.”
Injured ex-servicemen on team Britain enter Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The Australian team show off their national pride at the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony.
British actor Idris Elba addressed the crowd, reading William Ernest Henley’s poem Invictus, which was where the Games’ name comes from.
The RAF Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, perform above the opening ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
Singer Laura Wright performs at the Opening Ceremony.
US first lady Michelle Obama also gave a video address – the royals can be seen seated at the front of the stage.
British Prime Minister David Cameron was also in attendance – seen here greeting Prince Charles.
Cheeky Prince Harry has a nervy moment before his big speech at the opening ceremony.
Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Prince William, pose with the team Captains of the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada ahead of the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony.
