Harry dives into pickleball during school visit

The Duke of Sussex joined schoolchildren in Birmingham for a game of pickleball as he launched a new Invictus Games education programme.

Prince Harry visited Ninestiles Academy in Acocks Green to mark the launch of Inspire, a scheme designed to use stories from Invictus competitors to teach children about resilience and mental fitness.

Dressed casually in a dark polo shirt and jeans, the duke appeared relaxed as he played with pupils and later answered their questions.

During several rallies against Year 7 and Year 11 students, he joked his back was hurting after reaching for a low shot and applauded youngsters when they won points.

Asked who inspired him, the duke replied: "It's not a single person, it's a whole group of people."

Pointing to Invictus competitors, he added: "It's these guys. This Invictus community of people who get knocked down but keep getting back up."

The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans, will be held in Birmingham in 2027.

The visit came as the royal family continued to face questions over claims made by Prince Harry's uncle, Earl Spencer, in a forthcoming memoir about his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales.

In an interview with the BBC, Earl Spencer said he was "telling the truth" about claims that King Charles III said "we'll forget her soon enough" in the days after Princess Diana's death, allegations disputed by Buckingham Palace.

Back in Birmingham, Helen Helliwell, chief executive of the Invictus Games, said Inspire had been developed to bring lessons about resilience and wellbeing into classrooms.

"It's been a fantastic day today, children have been so excited, really inspired," she said.

She said the programme would draw on the experiences of Invictus competitors and continue beyond the Birmingham Games.

Former Invictus competitors also visited the school, including double and triple amputees who discussed their experiences and demonstrated prosthetic limbs to pupils.

Among those meeting the duke was student Izabella, who admitted she was nervous when she learnt he was visiting.

"It was lovely to see genuinely how down to earth he was," she said.

"It was really incredible to see a different perspective."

Speaking about the visit, she added: "Seeing him in Ninestiles, the school I've been in for years now, it's crazy.

"Our little school that's just become so big now, and I'm just so proud of it."

The duke's visit followed an Invictus Games event in Birmingham on Thursday, where he described life since returning to the UK as "eventful" and said it was "wonderful to be back on British soil".

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