What Are the Invictus Games? Prince Harry Kicks Off Sporting Event by Climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex climbs the Sydney Harbour Bridge with Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison and Invictus Games competitors. Dominic Lipinski - Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry has kicked off the 2018 Invictus Games by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014 as a sporting competition for wounded, injured or sick service personnel. Invictus is Latin for "unconquered and undefeated." Last year, it was held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and in 2016, Orlando, Florida, hosted the games. Sydney was selected as the host city for 2018.

Harry was accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he made the 439-foot climb to raise the Invictus flag. He was also joined by a select few athletes competing in the games, which begin on Saturday and continue for a week.

Prince Harry and @ScottMorrisonMP have climb the Harbour Bridge this afternoon to raise the Invictus Games flag high above the city. #RoyalTour #RoyalTourAustralia pic.twitter.com/XtuTygCJCB

— 9Honey (@9HoneyAU) October 19, 2018

Prince Harry came up with the idea for the Invictus Games after watching a British team compete in the United States' Warrior Games in 2013. Harry was backed by former London Lord Mayor Boris Johnson and the committee responsible for establishing the Olympics in the U.K. capital in 2012.

Earlier this month, during their trip to Australia, Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were expecting their first child. "Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public," Kensington Palace said in a statement.

The duchess's outfit at Princess Eugenie's wedding in Windsor sparked speculation that she could be pregnant. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Prince Charles congratulated Harry and Markle at the wedding, The Mirror reported. Kensington Palace said the Queen is "delighted" by the news.

Their trip has also included a meeting with Australia's governor-general Peter Cosgrove, a visit to the Taronga Zoo in Sydney to hold a koala and a schoolchild stroking Harry's beard.

The couple will return to London on November 1. They have 76 engagements prepared for their tour, which also includes visits to New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji.

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