Prince Harry puts on his medals and shares video message to present soldier of the year award

Prince Harry gave a passionate speech to present Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks wth a special soldier of the year award as he described her as a ‘beacon of inspiration’

Prince Harry was beaming in a special message as he presented a soldier of the year award to US combat medic.

The Duke could be seen clean-cut in a black suit jacket with his medals attached as he shared a speech from outside his Montecito home. The “special presentation” saw him pay tribute to Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks, who he described as a “friend” and a “beacon of inspiration”.

Sergeant Banks joined the US Army in 2008 aged 17 and suffered bilateral hip injuries while deployed in Iraq two years later. Now 33, she is a four-time Invictus Games gold medalist and five-time Paralympic medalist.

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Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks
Prince Harry had previously presented her with Invictus Games medals (
Image:
PA)
Harry said in the video: “I first met Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marks at the Invictus Games in Orlando 2016, where I presented her with not one, but four gold medals that she’d won in swimming. To me, she epitomises the courage, resilience and determination represented across our service community. And this is not just because of her swimming abilities.”

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He continued: “Ellie has courageously overcome every obstacle to cross her path. She has turned her pain into purpose and led through compassion and willpower, showing others that the impossible is indeed possible. Despite the injuries she endured during her deployment as a medical assistant in Iraq – along with numerous surgeries and setbacks that would have deterred many – she has persevered tirelessly, becoming the first woman in the Army’s world-class athlete program as well as the first swimmer the program had ever seen.

“She’s also taken her recovery a step further, using her experiences and achievements to inspire and assist others in their mental and physical journey into sport, ensuring those who can’t see a way out or through are introduced to the medicine of sport that saved her too.”

Harry’s medals on show were his Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, presented in 2008 after his service in Helmand Province, his Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, his Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and his Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.

His words come amid speculation Harry won’t be returning home to the UK next month as initially planned. He is due to visit next month to celebrate ten years of the Invictus Games but it appears he’s having doubts over security concerns after losing his High Court legal battle against the UK Home Office earlier this year.

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