The Duke of Sussex spoke to Alison Hammond during the Invictus Games One Year To Go ceremony

Prince Harry has declared his family are "proud of him" at today's Invictus Games One Year To Go ceremony, merely hours after his wife withdrew from the event.

The countdown, held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), saw the Duke of Sussex compete in pickleball, wheelchair rugby and a Laser Run with a broad smile on his face, despite the surrounding noise.

Meghan Markle had been expected to join her husband in Birmingham for the event, but pulled out of the event at the 11th hour yesterday evening.

On Friday, Harry was joined by vivacious TV presenter Alison Hammond for the Laser Race, along with former Labour minister Al Carns.

After the race, Harry met the ITV presenter, whose Birmingham heritage has thrust her into becoming a symbol for the upcoming 2027 Games, for a short interview.

The prince proclaimed that his absent family were "proud of him" before adding: "I love my family".

Harry also shared a warm embrace with Ms Hammond; the presenter leaving him wide-eyed by her enthusiasm.

As the duke walked away, she even let out a squeamish dance to celebrate her embrace with the prince, while Harry looked back with a smirk on his face.

Harry was also reunited with friend and former Invictus Games competitor, Dave Henson, for a game of pickleball, which is one of three new events introduced to the 2027 Games programme.

Harry and Mr Henson shared a heartwarming moment, as the duke both pulled a funny face and shook hands with his friend.

Mr Henson is a former Captain in the Royal Engineers, and lost his right leg above the knee and left leg through the knee in Afghanistan in 2011.

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The prince also competed in wheelchair rugby, leaving TV presenter Ade Adepitan, who won a bronze with the GB basketball team at the 2004 Paralympics, taken aback.

"He did a no-look pass. Did you see it? A no-look pass over his head," Mr Adepitan declared, astonished.

"I mean, he said to me at the end 'it was just a throw and hope,' but I said 'style it out, style it out,' that was done on purpose."

Helen Helliwell, chief executive officer of Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, opened today's event, saying: "Invictus has always been more than a week of games."

She added: "It transforms lives not only for competitors but for their families."

Next summer, Birmingham will welcome over 550 wounded, injured and sick service personnel, veterans and their families from 26 nations.