Prince Harry plays pickleball at Invictus Games event

The Duke of Sussex told competitors for his Invictus Games that they were an inspirational example of "standing together when it matters most".

He was warmly applauded by participants and supporters of the games for injured military veterans, at an event at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.

But he was not accompanied by his wife Meghan, who was originally planned to be here, but now is not going to be at any public events in the UK this week.

It's been a bumpy return to the UK for Prince Harry, in a visit that was meant to promote the Invictus Games for injured service men and women.

Instead it's been overshadowed by his court defeat against Associated Newspapers and confusion over whether Meghan and their children will be coming to the UK.

Prince Harry's appearance in the cavernous halls of the NEC was marking the countdown to the Invictus Games, which will be hosted in Birmingham next year.

Whatever the troubles outside, here he was among his own tribe, the people he calls his "second family".

He praised the Invictus competitors as "remarkable men and women who have served their countries and who continue to show us what courage really looks like".

While he faced his own adversity this week, he seemed relaxed and patiently worked his away around the huge exhibition hall, where demonstrations of sports had been set up, chatting to competitors and their families.

-BBC