Prince Harry of Britain will visit Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on Wednesday to meet soldiers and spread the word about the Invictus Games, which support wounded warriors.
Harry, fifth in line to the British throne and veteran of the Afghanistan war, will visit Fort Belvoir Wednesday to meet with wounded men and women in recovery and rehabilitation programs, officials say. First lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will join him for the visit, according to Obama's office.
All three of them have made support for veterans and their families a priority among their causes.
They will tour the USO Warrior and Family Center for wounded or ill warriors and their families and caregivers. They will also watch an adaptive sports event, similar to one that will be featured at the Invictus Games, White House officials said.
"The visit will highlight the innovative programming designed to support the mental health and well being of service members, veterans, and their families," according to a White House news release.
Britain's Prince Harry, left, talks to Sapper Clive Smith, 2nd right, and Sapper Jack Cummings, right, who both lost their legs in Afghanistan in 2010. They attended an Oct. 22 ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London, marking the 75th anniversary of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units across the Armed Forces.
Photo Credit: John Stillwell/ AP
Prince Harry spearheaded the Invictus Games, which were first held in London last September. The next Invictus Games are planned for May in Orlando, Florida.
The prince served 10 years in the British Army and served two tours in Afghanistan. He piloted attack helicopters as Capt. Harry Wales.
Harry is patron of the wounded warriors' Walk of Britain, and, next month, he will welcome the walkers to Buckingham Palace as they finish the 1,000-mile trek that began Aug. 22 in Scotland. Harry participated in the walk twice last month.
He also attended a service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Oct. 22 to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of the British Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units. After the ceremony, he met with families of EOD soldiers killed in action, as well as wounded warriors.
At the ceremony, he wore a suit and medals he earned during his Army service.
But something else he was wearing sparked comment on both sides of the Atlantic: a full beard as red as the British prince's famous "ginger" hair. The beard has its own Twitter page: @HRHHarrysBeard
Prince Harry last visited the U.S. in 2013, when he watched the Warrior Games in Colorado and was inspired to launch the Olympic-style Invictus Games, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
