Prince Harry Attempts Australian Accent During Invictus Games Speech in Canberra
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, greeted attendees with a cheerful "G'day everybody" in his best attempt at an Australian accent while delivering a speech about the Invictus Games. This moment occurred during his address to a room filled with veterans and their families at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
Respectful Beginnings and Emotional Moments
Before his speech, Harry participated in a drinks reception for Invictus Australia supporters, where he warmly interacted with a veterans' assistance dog named Gigi, cuddling and kissing the delighted animal. Dressed in a suit adorned with his military medals, the duke commenced his formal remarks with an Acknowledgement of Country, a traditional gesture showing respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their enduring connection to the land.
Harry stated, "I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we gather and pay my respects to elders past and present." He then praised Australia, saying nowhere was the impact of the Invictus Games "more evident than here in good old Australia," once again trying out his Australian accent. Notably, the Duchess of Sussex was not present during this event.
Meghan's Concurrent Announcements
Coinciding with Harry's speech, two significant announcements involving Meghan were made. MasterChef Australia revealed that the duchess would appear as a guest judge on the cooking show, filming in Melbourne on Wednesday, and described her as "a passionate foodie with global influence." Additionally, it was announced that Meghan joined the fashion discovery platform OneOff as a participant and investor, creating exclusive edits of her looks and allowing users to shop her wardrobe directly. Her outfits from the Australia visit are detailed on the website, including pricing information.
Invictus Games: A Global Movement
Harry highlighted that the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014 to support the recovery of wounded, injured, and sick service personnel through sport, has "developed into a global movement." The biennial event now involves 22 nations and approximately 500 competitors, inspired by Harry's 2013 visit to the Warrior Games in the United States. Australia previously hosted the games in Sydney in 2018, and the next edition is scheduled for July 2027 at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.
During his speech, Harry announced that the inaugural Invictus Australia Sports Festival will take place later this year in Perth. He also shared updates on future host bids, noting that the Invictus team is currently in San Diego reviewing bids for the 2029 games, with the host to be awarded this summer to either the United States, Denmark, or South Korea. Furthermore, he mentioned there is already "strong interest" from multiple nations for hosting the 2031 games.
Tour of the Australian War Memorial
Prior to his speech, Harry was given a tour of the Australian War Memorial and its museum in Campbell, Canberra. He beamed after receiving a handmade "Welcome to Canberra" sign from a child at the museum. The duke expressed awe, saying "oh wow" when shown a Black Hawk helicopter, and waved to surprised visitors. He showed particular interest in an exhibition on the Ukraine War, using headphones to listen to part of the display.
On a gloriously sunny day in the Australian capital, Harry witnessed a Last Post Ceremony at the memorial before his speech. He laid a wreath in front of the Pool of Reflection and placed a poppy on the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. This daily ceremony, held since 2013, commemorates individual servicepeople; the one Harry attended honored Lieutenant Irene Ada Singleton, who served in World War II and died as a Japanese prisoner of war in Sumatra in 1945.
Impact and Legacy in Australia
Reflecting on Australia's role, Harry said, "Since the Invictus Games Sydney in 2018, Australia hasn't just carried the torch – you've raised the standard." He emphasized that what began as a moment has grown into sustained support for veterans, setting a benchmark for the global Invictus movement. Since its inception in Australia, the games have supported close to 30,000 veterans and families. In the past year alone, around 9,000 veterans and family members participated in events facilitated by Invictus Australia, supported by approximately 1,000 volunteers at local sporting events.
