Harry jokes with former Sandhurst instructor in Invictus Games surprise call

The Duke of Sussex has joked with one of his instructors from Sandhurst, telling her that she used to shout at him “so much”.

Harry surprised Invictus Games Team UK competitors with a video call as members gathered for a final training camp before the event takes place in the Netherlands later this month.

The duke founded the games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe, by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.

After being delayed by the pandemic, the next staging of the international competition will take place in The Hague from April 16 to 22.

The room erupted in laughter when Harry commented on the fact the competitors had had two years to prepare for the games and that therefore fitness should not be an issue.

“You realise that no-one, not just you guys, no-one’s got any excuses for not being fit now,” he joked.

Harry also enquired about former royal army physical training corps instructor Vic Wales, who was one of the instructing staff while he was a cadet at Sandhurst.

“Is my PTI from Sandhurst in here somewhere?” Harry asked, before spotting her and exclaiming: “There she is.”

He said: “I can’t believe after, how many years, 15 years, our paths are about to cross again.

“You used to shout at me so much.”

Harry appeared to be told that he needed it, as he then said: “I needed it. Yeah, cool. That’s also fair enough.”

Ms Wales, 44, from Newcastle, is taking part in five events – rowing, cycling, archery, powerlifting and athletics.

She broke her back in a training accident 11 years ago and was medically discharged.

Giving a team talk to the competitors, Harry said: “For a lot of you, you’ve already, as far as