Prince Harry Raises Invictus Flag In Sydney

Prince Harry with Invictus athletes in Sydney with the games flag in the backdrop. (Picture: Kensington Palace)

The Duke of Sussex scaled new heights as he and three competitors climbed Sydney Harbour Bride to raise the Invictus Games flag.

Prince Harry whose "favourite time of the year is the Games", took 13 minutes to ascend the 464 steps to the top of the bridge along the east side, before crossing the central walkway to raise the flag which flapped in the breeze.

Replacing the New South Wales flag is a rare event on the Harbour Bridge - the Aboriginal flag is flown on Australia Day and occasionally other sporting achievements or terror attacks are commemorated in this way.

The Prince was joined by three representatives from Team Australia and Invictus ambassador Gwen Cherne accompanying him on the summit.

The pregnant Duchess of Sussex did not take part in the engagement.

Peter Rudland, who deployed to Cambodia, twice to Iraq, twice to Timor Leste and to Afghanistan, and was the Australian co-captain in last years games, will compete in the cycling and wheelchair rugby.

He shared a joke with the Duke during the bridge climb.

"Harry gave the captains an Invictus coin and, at the time he gave it, I made a joke saying 'I'm going to love this but knowing me I'll probably lose it'.

"It was purely a joke and then I put it in my bag, we went on with the festivities and it went missing."

The Invictus Foundation sent another medal to replace the lost one.

Mr Rudland said: "It wasn't the one Harry gave me, so I mentioned it to him. I said 'Well, dude, I actually lost it', and he was like 'Really?'. So we had a laugh about that."

Ms Cherne, whose husband served in Cambodia, Afghanistan and Iraq and took his own life in February this year, shared a hug with the duke after completing the climb.

She said: "I think they [the Duke and Duchess of Sussex] provide this beacon of hope and light for so many.

"They're touching, they're shining that interest on the Games, and that shines light on their service and that shines light on the sacrifices their families make.

"I was humbled by the opportunity to spend that time with him and grateful for all he is doing given his place in the world."

Captain Ruth Hunt, an indoor rower and swimmer, said she and Harry talked about the services during the climb.

"It was awesome," she said. "We're the only three people in the world who are going to have had that experience, it's definitely one for the history books.

"He was just keen to have a normal chat.

Earlier, Harry and Meghan visited another Sydney landmark - Bondi Beach.

Keep up to date with the 2018 Invictus Games here.