Prince Harry meets Shropshire members of Invictus Games team
Prince Harry's words abandoned him when he met the 130-strong team who will be representing Britain at the inaugural Invictus Games.
The 29-year-old cracked jokes and raised a laugh as he had to retrieve his speech when it blew away at the announcement of the biggest British military sports team ever assembled from wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women.
The competitors will take on rivals from 13 other nations in a Paralympic-style competition in London next month.
Those assembled with the Prince near Tower Bridge yesterday included Mikey Hall, who broke his neck and back in a fall in 2000.
The former 1st Queen's Dragoons Guards Soldier, who grew up in St Martin's, near Oswestry, was joined by Corporal Ricky Furgusson, 29, who lost both legs, an eye and fingers on both hands in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2010.
Ricky, from Telford, has been selected to compete in athletics and will use prosthetic running blades.
Cpl Furgusson said he was thrilled to have been chosen for the Games, which begin on September 10, but was hoping "not to come last".
The 29-year-old praised Harry for his involvement in championing the games.
"When people talk about him they always focus on the 'royal' bit, but he's just a normal bloke," he said.
"I met him and his brother last week when they came down to the track and they were just two normal, down-to-earth blokes.
"I think it's great that he's said 'We should have these games in London' and he's done so much to make sure they happen."
Addressing members of the team , Harry thanked the public and the media for their support of the games, which he has championed and are being backed by the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Ministry of Defence.
He said: "To all of you behind me, I would like to congratulate you on making the team.
"These men and women here have achieved so much already but being selected for this team is another significant milestone in their life beyond injury."
He said the games were not just for those taking part, but for the "wider family" and added that the team would not just be competing for themselves but for their "mates".
