One of Prince Harry's passion projects is now no longer royal
One of Prince Harry’s royal projects has officially been transferred away from the Royal Foundation, it has been announced.
Harry set up the Endeavour Fund as a senior royal, to award grants to wounded, injured and sick former service personnel, so they could take on sporting challenges.
It was set up while Harry was part of the Royal Foundation, but has now been transferred into the Invictus Games, another of his projects.
The Invictus Games is a multi-sport event for injured former service men and women.
The Endeavour Fund Awards event in March was one of the last engagements Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, attended before they stepped back as senior royals.
Dominic Reid, chief executive of the Invictus Games Foundation said: “The Endeavour Fund has been doing incredible things for many years and we believe that together, both organisations will have a positive and sustained impact on the recovery and rehabilitation journeys of many from around the world who have experienced injury or illness during service.”
The Royal Foundation was set up by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry in 2012, and became the foundation for the Cambridges and the Sussexes when Harry married Meghan in 2018.
But the two households decided to split in 2019 and the Foundation reverted to being the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
William and Kate marked one year since another of the projects they ran with Harry and Meghan earlier this year, as Shout, the text-based crisis service, had its first anniversary.
Harry hinted at changes to the Endeavour Fund when he gave his speech at the awards night in March 2020.
He said: “I firmly believe that there is an even greater future ahead. Our ambition is to build on what has been achieved—to expand the Endeavour Fund further so that its impact can be felt around the world.”
There had previously been an announcement that Endeavour Fund and Invictus Games would work together more closely in the future.
Harry’s background in the Army informed much of his work as a senior royal and is likely to play a big part in what he does now he has stepped back. Several of his final engagements revolved around his military work.
He was stripped of his honourary titles when he stood back from royal work, but they have not yet been reallocated.
Jason Knauf, chief executive of The Royal Foundation said: “The Endeavour Fund has played an important role in ensuring that those injured in service have the opportunity to rediscover their self-belief and fighting spirit through physical challenges over the years.
“The Royal Foundation is proud of its role in creating both Endeavour Fund and the Invictus Games, and the impact that both have had on the WIS community. We look forward to seeing their continued success, together.”
David Wiseman, who competed in the Invictus Games London 2014, Orlando 2016, and Toronto 2017 has led the Endeavour Fund from the beginning and will transfer to the Invictus Games Foundation with the programme.
Read more: Harry continues his mother Princess Diana's work as he praises landmark clearance charity
He said: “The whole world has changed in recent months, but the spirit of Invictus and the Endeavour Fund has always emanated from overcoming adversity and fostering post-traumatic growth.
“The Endeavour Fund will evolve in its new home and in the new post-COVID environment but what will not change is our support to recovery, rehabilitation and growth through the power of sport and adventurous challenge.”
The Invictus Games was due to take place in The Hague in May this year, but had to be postponed until next year because of the pandemic.
