Prince Harry appears via videolink at Invictus Games event in Germany

Prince Harry spoke in German as he made his first public appearance following confirmation that he will attend his father King Charles III’s coronation alone.

The Duke of Sussex opened a speech in Berlin by confidently saying ‘guten abend meine damen und herren’ which translates as ‘good evening ladies and gentlemen’.

Harry, 38, appeared in the video shown at the Invictus Games event yesterday which marked 150 days until the competition begins in Düsseldorf in September.

The Duke – who will attend the coronation in London without wife Meghan or their children Archie and Lilibet – has previously said he wished he could speak German.

Yesterday, Harry thanked Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, along with members of parliament and Team Germany for their support. 

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla are pictured in Malton, North Yorkshire, on April 5

Harry – who was wearing a navy suit and white shirt in the clip – launched the games for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women nearly a decade ago in 2014.

He said: ‘Guten abend meine damen und herren. First and foremost I would like to thank Prime Minister Wüst, members of parliament, Team Germany and all those gathered here tonight for your continued support. We are just 150 days away.’

In an Invictus Games event in Dusseldorf last September, he opened a speech in German saying: ‘Hello, Düsseldorf. We, Meghan and I, are very happy to be here today’ – before wiping his brow and smiling, adding: ‘That’s about where it stops.’

Harry did not learn the language at school and said in 2015 during a German lesson on a royal tour of New Zealand: ‘I learned French at school but I’ve forgotten almost all of it. I’m sorry. I really wanted to learn Spanish, but my headmaster told me not to bother. I wish I could speak German.’ 

It comes after Buckingham Palace and a spokesman for the Sussexes confirmed on April 12 that Harry would attend the coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and then-Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey in March 2019

The late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 

However, Meghan will stay home in the US with their children Archie and Lilibet following ‘extensive discussions’ between London and California.

It is understood that the King and Prince William have had no meaningful dialogue with Harry since the late Queen’s funeral at the Abbey last September.

Harry will play no part in next month’s official procession, walking in and out as a guest. Front row seats will be reserved for working members of the Royal Family.

Friends of the Sussexes have said Harry’s visit to Britain will be a ‘fairly quick trip’ and that he will only be attending the coronation at the Abbey.