Prince Harry Quietly Honors a WWII Veteran With a Special Gift Ahead of His 100th Birthday

While the royal family celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with pomp and grandeur, Prince Harry quietly conveyed his special thanks to a WWII veteran.

Prince Harry paid tribute to World War II veteran Private Joseph Hammond with a special gift ahead of his 100th birthday. The Duke of Sussex, who is the founder of the Invictus Games, presented Hammond with an Invictus medal coin.

"It was a great honor to welcome the @WeAreInvictus team to Ghana, just ahead of my birthday this Saturday!" Hammond announced on X (formerly Twitter). "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 99-year-old veteran also shared that the ambassadors from the Invictus Games presented him with the gift and good wishes from the royal family. He added that he gifted the Invictus founder with a copy of his own memoir in return for the present and good wishes.

The 100th birthday present isn't the only time that the Duke has paid homage to the veteran's efforts. Back in 2020, Harry sent Hammond a letter thanking him for his efforts to raise money for frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Given the service and selflessness you have demonstrated throughout your life, it does not surprise me that you would take on a challenge such as this, and that you wanted to walk even more miles," Harry wrote in the letter, which was obtained by People magazine. "It is also perhaps less surprising that you would do so to support the critical work of our frontline workers, who are now tasked with keeping us safe and healthy."

The royal family members and the veteran first met in 2019 at an event to honor veterans from the British Commonwealth. Harry, who is a military veteran himself, asked for a volunteer to help him carry the Union Jack flag during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games that year. Hammond, who was in the stands at the time, immediately volunteered for the task.

"This man, especially, Prince Harry, I glued myself to him because he is also a soldier, he’s been to Afghanistan, and we spoke about the military, my battalion. We exchanged ideas. It was wonderful," Hammond told CNN.

The two men kept in touch over the years, and Harry was eager to learn more about Hammond's latest fundraising efforts. After hearing about the veteran's plans to walk 100 miles to raise money for charity, the duke was deeply impressed and wanted to show his support.

"The Invictus Games are a celebration of resilience, strength, and service, values that Private Hammond embodies in his own incredible journey," Harry said in a statement to People magazine. "I am honored to be able to thank him personally for his support of our frontline workers during a time of great need."