Prince Harry quietly honored a WWII veteran as the royal family marked Victory in Europe (VE) Day. The Duke of Sussex, a British Army veteran himself, presented Private Joseph Hammond from Ghana with an Invictus medal coin ahead of Hammond’s 100th birthday. In return, Hammond gifted Harry a copy of his memoir.
Hammond shared the moment on X, saying, “It was a great honor to welcome the @WeAreInvictus team to Ghana, just ahead of my birthday this Saturday! I was honored to receive the Invictus Medal Coin from #PrinceHarry and gifted him a copy of my memoir in recognition of his unwavering commitment to veterans’ welfare.” The Invictus Games, founded by Harry, is a sports event for wounded and sick military personnel and veterans.
This thoughtful birthday gesture was not the first time Harry had recognized Hammond’s work. In 2020, Harry sent him a heartfelt letter thanking him for raising money for frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter praised Hammond’s lifelong service and selflessness.
Harry and Hammond first met in 2019 at a royal event honoring veterans from the British Commonwealth. Hammond told CNN he felt a strong connection with Harry, who also served in Afghanistan. They discussed military experiences and exchanged ideas. Harry served ten years in the British Army, including as an Apache helicopter pilot and forward air controller.
