Prince Harry Plays Pickleball and Launches Invictus Education Initiative on Second Day of UK Engagements
Maintaining strong momentum following his return to British public life, Prince Harry traveled to Birmingham on Friday, September 18, for an energetic visit to Ninestiles Academy. The engagement marked the 42-year-old Duke of Sussex’s second consecutive day of official appearances, coming immediately on the heels of the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards gala in London, which raised $2.2 million for his foundation. The visit carried deep strategic resonance as the West Midlands hub prepares to host the Invictus Games in July 2027.
Inside the school sports hall, Harry stepped onto the court to play several spirited rallies of pickleball—a sport slated to join the 2027 Games program—alongside pupils and veteran competitors, including Squadron Leader Samantha May and Clare Gibson. The prince brought lighthearted humor to the match, joking about a twinge in his back after stretching for a low volley and warmly encouraging first-time players. The engagement served as the official launch of INSPIRE, a nationwide educational framework designed alongside regional academic trusts to translate Invictus values of resilience, recovery, and service into classroom curricula spanning STEM, physical education, and personal development.
Harry also joined a Year 9 STEM workshop focusing on adaptive bioengineering and prosthetic mechanics, collaborating with bioengineer Paralympian Dr. Dave Henson and veteran Josh Boggi to guide students through real-world design challenges. Later addressing an assembly of 200 pupils, Harry reflected thoughtfully when asked to identify his personal hero. Refusing to credit any single prominent figure, he pointed directly to the veteran community, emphasizing that true inspiration comes from everyday heroes who get knocked down by life, summon the grit to rise again, and dedicate their recovery to lifting those around them.
