Prince Harry praises wounded 'heroes' during US trip

Prince Harry has paid tribute to wounded service personnel who took part in a tournament called Warrior Games.

The prince, who is on a short trip to the US, also received a humanitarian prize in Washington for his charity work with injured military personnel.

He described them as heroes and said: "So many of our servicemen and women have made the ultimate sacrifice.

"So many lives have been lost and so many changed forever by the wounds that they have suffered."

The Warrior Games is an event hosted every year by the US Olympic Committee.

Wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans compete in Paralympic-style sporting events.

The prince met Royal Marines Captain Simon Maxwell and Jill Biden, wife of the US vice president.

More than 200 competitors took part in the games in Colorado last week and the British team competed in archery, cycling, swimming, track and field and sitting volleyball.

Prince Harry met the UK team, which was funded by the charity Help For Heroes, at the home of Sir Peter Westmacott, the British Ambassador to the US.

He then travelled to a hotel to be presented with the Atlantic Council's 2012 award for distinguished humanitarian leadership.

Prince Harry accepted the award on behalf of his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, who also campaigns for disabled and wounded servicemen and women.

The 27-year-old prince gave a speech in which he said: "They have paid a terrible price to keep us safe and free.

"The very least we owe them is to make sure that they and their brave families have everything they need through their darkest days - and, in time, regain the hope and confidence to flourish again.

"For these selfless people, it is after the guns have fallen silent, the din of battle quietened, that the real fight begins - a fight that may last for the rest of their lives."

He is a patron of the Walking With The Wounded charity, and is a prominent supporter of ABF The Soldiers' Charity and Help For Heroes.