Harry praises and congratulates UK personnel selected for first winter Invictus Games

The Duke of Sussex has paid tribute to the "passion, determination and resilience" of wounded, injured and sick serving UK personnel and veterans who will compete in the first Invictus Games to include winter sports.

Sixty-four make up the squad, including 60 competitors and four reserves, who will travel to Vancouver and Whistler in Canada in February.

Prince Harry said: "Congratulations to those selected for Team UK for our first-ever Winter Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler next February.

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"Team UK will join over 500 competitors from across 20 nations in this ground-breaking event that expands the range and profile of winter adaptive sports.

"These games present an incredible opportunity for our courageous service personnel and veterans to demonstrate their skills in new challenges like alpine skiing, snowboarding and skeleton, as well as providing a truly memorable experience for their families.

"We're excited to see their passion, determination, and resilience on full display as they take on this new chapter."

The games were established by Harry in 2014 – as an international adaptive multi-sport event to help wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, serving and veterans.

Their range of injuries include visual impairment, amputation, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and mental health issues – and have been selected based on the benefit that training for, and competing at the games, will contribute towards their recovery.

Louise Assioun, the Royal British Legion's Team UK manager, said: "For the selected individuals, being part of a team again, representing their country and being around others who are all on their individual recovery pathway is what makes Team UK's journey to the Invictus Games so unique.

"The Royal British Legion is proud to support them every step of the way."

Defence Secretary John Healey also congratulated the squad, saying "their strength, resilience and dedication are an inspiration to us all".