Prince Harry has continued his latest UK public appearances with an energetic visit to a Birmingham school, where he joined students for a game of pickleball and helped launch a new education initiative inspired by the Invictus Games.
The Duke of Sussex visited Ninestiles School on September 18 as part of the launch of the INSPIRE programme, an educational project designed to bring lessons and resources inspired by the Invictus Games into classrooms across the UK.
Harry's school visit came just one day after he attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards in London. The appearance marked another public engagement for the Duke as he continues his charitable activities in Britain following his family's return to the UK.
During his time at Ninestiles School, Harry took part in a lively pickleball session alongside students and supporters connected with the Invictus Games. The sport is set to feature at the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, making the activity particularly relevant to the event he was promoting.
The Duke also spent time exploring how the INSPIRE programme can connect the experiences of Invictus competitors with classroom learning. The initiative has been developed with educators and learning authorities and is intended to provide curriculum-linked material for young people.
Harry later joined a Year 9 STEM lesson focused on prosthetic design and performance. The session gave students an opportunity to explore ideas surrounding adaptive technology while learning from people with direct experience of the Invictus movement.
Former Invictus competitors Dr. Dave Henson and Josh Boggi were also involved in the educational activities. Their experiences helped demonstrate how sport, technology and personal resilience can be brought together in a classroom setting.
The visit highlighted one of the central aims of the Invictus Games: using the stories and achievements of wounded, injured and sick service personnel to encourage wider conversations about recovery, determination and inclusion.
Harry's appearance in Birmingham also comes at an important time for the Invictus Games. The city is preparing to host the next edition of the international sporting event in July 2027, giving the Duke a number of opportunities to promote its programmes and build anticipation for the competition.
At his previous evening engagement in London, Harry spoke positively about being back in the UK. His latest school appearance has now provided another opportunity for him to focus attention on the charitable work associated with the Invictus movement.
His recent schedule also demonstrates that returning to Britain does not automatically mean a return to official royal duties. Buckingham Palace has reaffirmed that Harry and Meghan Markle remain non-working royals, while Harry's current public appearances are centred largely on charitable causes and organisations with which he is associated.
For students at Ninestiles School, however, the visit was less about royal status and more about taking part in an unusual educational experience. Harry's involvement allowed pupils to see how the Invictus Games can be used as inspiration for subjects ranging from sport to science and technology.
The INSPIRE programme is expected to reach schools beyond Birmingham during the coming year. Its resources are designed to cover areas including mathematics, English, STEM, art, performing arts, sport and personal, social, health and economic education.
Harry's latest appearance therefore placed his Invictus work firmly at the centre of his UK activities. With Birmingham preparing for the 2027 Games, the Duke is continuing to promote an initiative that extends beyond the sporting competition itself and into education and community engagement.
Key Takeaways:
- Prince Harry visited Ninestiles School in Birmingham on September 18, 2026.
- He played pickleball with students as part of an Invictus Games-related school programme.
- Harry helped launch the INSPIRE education programme, which brings Invictus-inspired resources into classrooms.
- He also joined a STEM lesson focused on prosthetic design and performance.
- Pickleball is among the sports being introduced for the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
- The visit was part of Harry's continuing charitable and Invictus-related activities in the UK.
