Ten years of Harry's Invictus Games: From laughter with Charles and William to early outing with new girlfriend Meghan...and THAT 'boom' moment with the Queen - how the competition for wounded veterans has been the Duke's greatest achievement

With Prince Harry currently on a lightning visit to the UK to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games, he will likely be feeling pride in what is his greatest achievement.

Yesterday the Duke, who has travelled without his wife Meghan Markle, attended a special service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the milestone. 

The event will have been especially meaningful for Harry, who founded the Invictus Games - the international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women - in 2014. 

The Prince, who served two tours of Afghanistan as a soldier, previously said: 'I have witnessed first-hand how the power of sport can positively impact the lives of wounded, injured Servicemen and women in their journey of recovery.'

Below, we look back at 10 years of Invictus - from his laughter with William and Charles at the inaugural event in 2014 to one of his and Meghan's first appearances in 2017...and that famous 'boom' moment with his late grandmother the Queen. 

2014 – Inaugural games in London

Harry, his brother Prince William and their father King Charles were in great spirits when the trio attended the inaugural games in London in September 2014.

They were snapped laughing as William showed his brother and father something on his smartphone. 

Meghan had yet to enter the picture, and Harry was newly single following his split four months earlier from Cressida Bonas. 

Harry, William and Charles were in great spirits when they attended the very first games in London in September 2014

Prince Harry laughs as he plays volleyball with wounded service personnel at the launch of the Invictus Games at the Copper Box in the Olympic Park, East London

Prince Harry plays sitting volleyball during the launch of the Invictus Games at the Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Harry sits with his father Prince Charles, stepmother Camilla and brother Prince William during the opening ceremony for the first Invictus Games in 2014

Prince Harry talks with wheelchair basketball players during the launch of the Invictus Games at the Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on March 6, 2014

Over the course of the four-day event, 14 countries competed in 10 disciplines and Harry was there for it all, happy and sporting a full head of hair.

He rolled around the floor laughing as he played volleyball and met invited Boris Johnson, then the Mayor of London, to watch a game of wheelchair rugby.

My mate Michelle (part one)

In October 2015 Prince Harry was joined by then first Lady Michelle Obama at an event in Virginia, USA to announce that the next Invictus Games would take part in Florida.

Prince Harry greets first lady Michelle Obama as he takes the podium to speak after meeting with wounded servicemen and veterans at Fort Belvoir military base in Virginia, 2015

First lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by Jill Biden, left, reacts as Prince Harry hands her the basketball at the conclusion of a game of wheelchair basketball by wounded servicemen

Still young, free and single, Harry attended a wheelchair basketball game. 

Before kicking the game off, Michelle announced to the crowd: 'Ok ladies, Prince Harry is here – don't act like you don't notice!'

She added said she would like to 'apologise for all the gold medals the USA will win,' prompting Harry to say: 'You better bring it USA!'

Granny gets in on the act - April 2016

Having shown what a great sport she was at the London 2012 Olympics, with her James Bond sketch, Harry roped the late Queen into helping him promote the upcoming games in Orlando.

The Queen was brilliant in the sketch and when the Obama's reminded Prince Harry that he told the USA to 'bring it' she replied 'Oh really, please! 

After the late Queen's success at the London 2012 Olympics, Harry managed to persuade his grandmother to join him in the Invictus sketch in 2016 where he made a 'drop the mic' motion and said 'boom'

Showing his grandmother a brochure of the games, his phone pinged with a video message from President Obama and First Lady Michelle.

It reminded Harry that he'd told the USA to 'bring it' and to 'be careful what you wish for.'

'Oh really, please!' laughed Her Majesty as Harry made a 'drop the mic' motion and said 'boom' into the camera.

Canada beckons

Before heading off to the Orlando games, in May 2016 Harry made a flying visit to Toronto to reveal that the Canadian city would be hosting the 2018 games.

Prince Harry teamed up with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to announce the official countdown for Toronto 2017

He teamed up with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to announce the official countdown, not yet knowing just how much time he was about to be spending in that part of the world!

My mate Michelle (part 2)

In May 2016, Michelle Obama joined Harry for the opening ceremony of the Games in Orlando.

Both paid tribute to one another in their speeches.

Prince Harry and Michelle Obama cheer during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Orlando in 2016

Prince Harry cheers during the wheelchair rugby competition at the Invictus Games, Orlando

When the President was the vice President: Joe biden sharing a joke with Prince Harry

The day before the opening ceremony they gave a joint television interview, where Michelle revealed what a close relationship Harry had with his nephew Prince George, then two years old.

Toronto – a new games, and a new girlfriend

The Invictus games took place in Toronto in September 2017. 

Then First Lady Melania Trump attended the opening ceremony but – as glamorous as Melania was – there was only one woman everyone was interested in. 

By then, Harry had been dating his new girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, for 10 months.

Prince Harry met Melania Trump on the first day of the Invictus Games in September 2017

Harry and his new girlfriend, the then Suits star Meghan Markle, watch wheelchair tennis on day three of the Invictus Games in Toronto, 2017

Prince Harry being driven in a mini Land Rover on day one of the Invictus Games Toronto, 2017

Meghan was living in Toronto - where her show Suits was filmed - and attended the opening ceremony with her mother Doria. 

Later, Meghan wore ripped jeans and a white 'husband' shirt by her friend Misha Nonoo while watching wheelchair tennis with Harry as the world got its first proper glimpse of a future Duchess.

Meet the future missus

In April 2018, weeks before their wedding at St George's Chapel, Windsor, Harry took his future wife to the University of Bath's sports training village to meet the athletes hoping to represent the UK at the Sydney Games later that year.

Weeks before the big wedding, Meghan joined Prince Harry as he met athletes hoping to represent the UK at the Sydney games later that year

Sydney – newlywed with a baby on the way

In October 2018, Harry and Meghan – now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced they were expecting their first child.

Meghan was in the early stages of pregnancy when she and Harry undertook a tour of Australia and New Zealand and were able to twin official duties with their attendance the games.

Meghan and Harry attending the Invictus Games in Sydney in 2018. By then, Meghan was pregnant with the couple's first child 

Meghan presented medals to the winners of the wheelchair basketball final at the Quay Centre

When Meghan stood up to make a speech during the closing ceremony, it became clear  it was no longer all about Harry

Meghan's fashion style took centre stage, as she wore an elegant navy Stella McCartney dress at the opening ceremony.

By the time the last event came around, it was clear the Invictus Games was no longer going to be all about Harry. 

On the final day Meghan - wearing an olive-green tuxedo dress - took to the stage of the closing ceremony and gave a speech announcing how happy she was to join the 'Invictus family.'

A Babygro for baby Archie

Just three days after his son Archie arrived in May 2019, Harry travelled to The Hague to announce the countdown to the 2020 games, due to take part in the Netherlands.

Three days after Archie was born Harry flew to the Hague and was presented with a babygro for his newborn son

Prince Harry rides a bike around Sportcampus Zuiderpark as part of a programme of events to mark the official launch of the Invictus Games in The Hague

Beaming with joy at being a new dad, Harry was delighted to be gifted a Babygro for his son by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands.

Meeting the athletes in 2019

In October 2019, Harry met the 65 servicemen and women who would be representing the UK at the 2020 games in the Hague.

Prince Harry met the 65 servicemen and women who were representing the UK at the next games in The Hague

Days earlier, Meghan had told ITV's Tom Bradby in documentary Harry & Meghan an African journey that she had been struggling with royal life. 

The couple then announced that they would shortly be taking a six-week break to spend time with their new son Archie.

The Hague – and how things have changed!

Following two years of Covid cancellations, the Hague games finally took place in April 2022.

After the coronavirus pandemic, the games took place again  in 2022 and both Harry and Meghan were at the opening ceremony 

Prince Harry took part in the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge in The Hague

Prince Harry and Meghan attending the athletics event at The Hague in 2022

A tense looking Harry watching an athletics event during the games in 2022

Prince Harry was no longer a working royal when he attended the closing ceremony

By then Harry and Meghan - no longer working royals - had moved to Montecito and become parents for the second time to baby Lilibet, who was born in June 2021.

Following their bombshell Oprah interview, Harry was estranged from his family.

But family feuds aside, he enjoyed a game of table tennis doubles and Meghan thrilled her fans with her stylish wardrobe.

Had there been a medal for most extravagant outfits , she'd have won hands down! 

She wore a £2,400 boucle Celine jacket for the first day of the games and on day three displayed a total of £8,600 worth of designer clothes, including a striking cream belted blazer by Brandon Maxwell.

Get Ready Germany!

In September 2022 Harry and Meghan travelled to Dusseldorf to start the one-year countdown to the next Games.

Meghan wore a halter neck top and wide leg trousers as she joined her husband, just two days before the death of Her Majesty the Queen. 

Prince Harry attended a press conference for 'One Year to Go' launch event in 2022

Meghan Markle joined Harry at the launch of the 'One Year To go' event in 2022

Doing their thing in Dusseldorf

In September 2023 the royal couple spent four days in Dusseldorf for the games. 

Harry's biography Spare had been released, in which he spilt more secrets about his family, creating an even bigger rift.

A flushed Prince Harry watches the sitting volley ball whilst drinking a beer at the 2023 games in Dusseldorf

Meghan appears in cream shorts and a matching jacket at the cycling medal ceremony

Their Netflix series had also aired in December of 2022, showing behind the scenes footage of the build up to 'Megxit.'

Meghan had declined to attend the Coronation of King Charles, but she did dust down her designer wardrobe to join her husband at the games in Dusseldorf.

She flashed her legs in white shorts and looked elegant in a Caroline Herrera denim shirt dress.

Countdown to Canada

In February of this year, the couple flew to Vancouver to start the countdown to the next games in February 2025.

Michael Buble looks on as Prince Harry plays wheelchair curling in Vancouver in 2023

Prince harry tries his hand at Skeleton Bobsled. Meghan was seen videoing him and seemed very impressed

A jubilant Prince Harry after completing the skeleton bobsled in Whistler, Canada, in February

Harry and Meghan were joined by Canadian crooner Michael Buble. 

They watched a game of wheelchair curling and Harry tried his luck at the skeleton bobsled as Meghan looked striking in her £1,028 camel wrap jacket by Sentaler.

With Meghan's new venture American Orchard Riviera due to be fully launched later this year, let's hope she can take a break from jam making to attend next year's games!