NEW YORK — Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports red carpet event in New York City on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The Duke of Sussex, 41, cheekily remarked to the assembled photographers that they were the “most polite” he had ever encountered, bringing a moment of levity to the prestigious evening.

The high-profile appearance comes just days after the Duke reunited with his father, King Charles, and stepmother, Queen Camilla, at Highgrove House in the English countryside. The family gathering also included the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, marking a significant moment of familial connection.

Reflecting on the genesis of the Invictus Games, the Prince told TIME he was profoundly moved by the transformative power of athletics. “I thought, ‘Wow, look at the power of sport, look at how it is literally changing lives in front of my very eyes,’ ” he shared. “It was so clear to me. Let’s invite as many countries as possible to make it international, because clearly more countries need to benefit from this.”

Despite the celebratory tone of the New York event, the preceding week in the U.K. was reportedly fraught with logistical tensions. Sources indicated that initial disagreements with Buckingham Palace over royal accommodations created a detrimental amount of stress before the family ultimately convened at Highgrove. Furthermore, Prince William was notably absent from the reunion, choosing instead to attend his annual charity polo match in Windsor alongside the Princess of Wales.