President Joe Biden name dropped Prince Harry and his work with the Invictus Games, despite the First Lady snubbing the event earlier this year in fear of upsetting Buckingham Palace.
Speaking at Thursday night’s National Christmas Tree Lighting, the President called attention to 43 members of Team USA who were in the audience.
The team had travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany in September for the Invictus Games.
It was an event that First Lady Jill Biden skipped, as she was reportedly concerned the Palace could be hurt if she attended.
WATCH NOW: President Biden turns on the National Christmas Lights
Speaking at the Christmas tree lighting, President Biden said: “Jill and Prince Harry went to the first Invictus Games in ’14 and the Invictus Games in Ontario, I was there, in ’16 in Toronto.
“Anyway, there’s been great, great, great effort that we’ve seen.”
He added: “And you know these athletes are incredible. Wounded warriors – from service branches, from every service branch, the essence of who we are as Americans.”
The Toronto games were actually held in 2017. Dr Biden attended the 2016 Invictus Games when they were held in Florida.
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It was reported that Jill Biden wanted to attend the Invictus games
Reuters
On September 1, the East Wing made it official that the First Lady would skip the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf.
Dr Biden has been a staunch advocate for service members, veterans and their families.
It was reported in July that Dr Biden had wanted to attend the April 2022 Invictus Games in The Hague, the first games held since the COVID-19 pandemic and since Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family.
However, sources said the First Lady ultimately didn’t go for fear of offending the British Royal Family.
The President led the ceremony to turn on the lights
Reuters
A person familiar with the event told Mail Online that despite the First Lady wanting to go, British officials, in a working-level conversation, conveyed to National Security Council staff that they thought the idea would land badly.
Dr Biden had enjoyed a close friendship with Prince Harry for years, bonding over their shared support for veterans.
During her time as second lady, she and then first lady Michelle Obama launched Joining Forces to support military families.
The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry in 2014 after attending the Warrior Games in the US the year before.
