Prince Harry’s office issued a public show of support for women competing in sports and serving in the military, spotlighting female participants in the Invictus Games after a controversial sports-betting advertisement featuring actor Sydney Sweeney sparked criticism online, according to reports.

The message, shared alongside a series of photos of women who have competed in the Invictus Games over the years, was framed as a tribute to female competitors and a call for the community to celebrate their accomplishments. It was released as some members of the sports community voiced shock and frustration over Sweeney’s recent campaign promoting a sports betting app, which critics described as “distasteful,” the reports said.

In the statement, Harry’s Invictus team wrote: “Here’s to the amazing female competitors who make the #InvictusGames so special!” The post continued, “Women in the military and women in sport continue to break barriers, challenge perceptions and show what is possible.”

The statement then directly addressed the broader network of competitors and supporters connected to the event: “To the women of the Invictus Community, past and present, share your favourite Invictus Games memories in the comments below.”

The post drew positive reactions from supporters who praised the focus on women’s participation and the Games’ emphasis on resilience and recovery. While the message did not mention Sweeney or the sports-betting ad by name, its timing connected it to the wider debate roiling parts of the sports world about gambling promotions and how they intersect with athletes, fandom, and public health concerns.

The Invictus Games, founded by Harry in 2014, is an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick service members and veterans. In recent years, the competition has increasingly showcased women’s participation, reflecting the broader presence of women in armed forces and in adaptive sports—areas where representation has historically lagged.

The episode also comes as sports betting has become far more visible in mainstream sports culture. Since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize sports wagering in 2018, betting ads and sponsorships have expanded across broadcasts and social media, prompting recurring criticism from some fans, advocates, and regulators about the pace and prominence of marketing.

Harry’s team, in focusing on women competitors, emphasized themes that have long been central to the Invictus brand: service, recovery, and inclusion. By highlighting images from past Games, the post also served as a reminder of the event’s evolution and the growing number of women who have competed on the Invictus stage.

Why this matters

Women’s sports and women’s military service have both seen major gains in visibility in the past decade, but public attention can shift quickly when controversies erupt around the commercial side of sports. The Invictus Games message underscores how organizations tied to athletics increasingly use their platforms to reinforce values and community identity. It also lands amid broader scrutiny of sports-betting advertising and its impact on sports culture.

For Invictus supporters, the post positioned women competitors not as a sidebar, but as a central part of the Games’ story—past, present, and future.