
Prince Harry spread the love on the first full day of the Invictus Games, posing with babies, offering kind words of encouragement, and even planting kisses on a lucky few near Orlando, Florida.

Harry, who founded the games for wounded, injured and sick veterans, now in its second running after the London Invictus Games in 2014, surprised many of the competitors by handing out medals himself.

The royal planted a kiss on road cyclist Katie Kuiper, who served in the Army as an intelligence analyst and suffered a gunshot wound to the head in 2013.

The prince's involvement was not lost on American gold medalist Jennifer Schuble, who told People Magazine: 'Normally you get gorgeous female models giving out medals at traditional cycling events.

'To have Prince Harry was absolutely unbelievable – ten times better for a woman than getting a model!'

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Prince Harry kissed road cyclist Katie Kuiper (right), a former sergeant who served in the US Army as an intelligence analyst and suffered a gunshot wound to the head in 2013

Harry threw down the gauntlet last month, telling American athletes to 'bring it', which prompted the Obamas to warn: 'Be careful what you wish for'. Pictured, Harry with the American women's road cycling team (Katie Kuiper far right)

Prince Harry spread the love on the first full day of the Invictus Games, posing with British recumbent cyclist Rob Cromey-Hawke and his daughter Pippa (left)

The Invictus Games is the only International sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. Started in 2014 by Prince Harry, the event uses the power of sport to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation. Pictured, Harry biting British cyclist Jaco van Gass' (left) gold medal

Former US Marine Jenae Piper, who won two golds in recumbent cycling today, credited the royal for spreading his positive energy and taking to time to address everyone.

He also cheered on power lifter Michael Yule, who lost both legs to a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan, as he lifted 418.9pounds to win the first gold medal for Britain.

Harry presented the medal to Yule, and the two men clasped hands and hugged each other.

Yule said: 'Prince Harry is a top lad and he knows where we're coming from. That's the thing, there's no sympathy - we don't want that - it's just we're the lads, he's a lad, we're getting on with it, and he's a prince second to us.'

'He's such a supporter of all injured servicemen worldwide now and I'm sure everybody looks upon that.

'He puts a lot of pressure on people - high people - to make sure the boys are looked after. I'm sure we'd be in a worse place without him.'

Harry kicked off the opening ceremony with First Lady Michelle Obama, former president George W Bush, Hollywood star Morgan Freeman with performances by singers James Blunt and Laura Wright.

Former US Marine Jenae Piper, who won two golds in recumbent cycling today, credited the royal for spreading his positive energy and taking to time to address everyone. Pictured, Harry with members of the UK road cycling event

Prince Harry served in Afghanistan as a forward air controller with British troops for 10 weeks starting from December 2007 until news of his location leaked. Pictured, Harry with members of the British Military during the powerlifting event Monday

Harry returned to Afghanistan for a five-month deployment with the Army Air Corps in 2012 and 2013. He said: 'It's very easy to forget about who I am when I am in the army. Everyone's wearing the same uniform and doing the same kind of thing'

American gold medalist Jennifer Schuble, said: 'Normally you get gorgeous female models giving out medals at traditional cycling events. To have Prince Harry was absolutely unbelievable – ten times better for a woman than getting a model!' Pictured, Harry cooling down with an ice cream bar

The prince also cheered on power lifter Michael Yule, who lost both legs to a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan, as he lifted 418.9pounds to win the first gold medal for Britain

Harry presented the medal to Yule, and the two men clasped hands and hugged each other. Yule later said: 'Prince Harry is a top lad and he knows where we're coming from. That's the thing, there's no sympathy - we don't want that...He's such a supporter of all injured servicemen worldwide.'

Prince Harry gave an emotional speech about the sacrifices soldiers make on the battlefield and spoke of his own harrowing experiences of war as he opened the Invictus Games in Orlando last night.

Harry said he understood the true cost of war and credited his service in Afghanistan with inspiring him to start the games in order to help his 'military family'.

'When I joined the Army I just wanted to be one of the guys. What I learned through serving were the extreme privileges of being a prince and the opportunity I have to help my military family.'

'I learned about the importance of teamwork and camaraderie in a way that only military service can teach you,' Harry said, speaking from his heart.

'And when I traveled back from the battlefield on a plane carrying the body of a Danish soldier and three young Brits fighting for their lives, I began to understand the true cost of war.

The Prince also raised awareness of 'invisible injuries' such as post-traumatic stress and depression, which are often suffered by soldiers after returning from war.

Hundreds of injured servicemen and women and veterans from 15 countries across the globe will compete over the course of four days in the sporting event created by Prince Harry.

Prince Harry gave an emotional speech about the sacrifices soldiers make on the battlefield and spoke of his own harrowing experiences of war as he opened the Invictus Games in Orlando last night

Harry said he understood the true cost of war and credited his service in Afghanistan with inspiring him to start the games in order to help his 'military family'. Pictured, the rowing finals in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Monday

He said during the opening ceremony: 'When I joined the Army I just wanted to be one of the guys. What I learned through serving were the extreme privileges of being a prince...'

Prince Harry said he hoped his mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997 at the age of 36, would be proud of his efforts. Pictured, a competitor during the hand bike race

One American spectator cheered on his countrymen in a full stars and stripes outfit (left), while a veteran walked onto the podium during the medal presentation for rowing with an image of Wonder Woman on her prosthetic leg (right)

Many of the servicemen and women credited Harry for celebrating injured veterans. Schuble, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 1999, said it was because of the prince that the games had gained more attention than the Paralympics. Pictured, fans cheering in the stands

Prince Harry and Army Sergeant 1st Class Michael Smith (left) thank each other for their service. During the opening ceremony on Sunday, Harry made sure to address issues like post traumatic stress disorder and depression that veterans often face upon their return home

English schoolboy Rio Woolf lost his right leg when he was just 14 months old and was given a week off lessons to fly to Orlando, Florida, for the event. The seven-year-old, who hopes to compete in the Paralympics one day, shared a bear hug with Harry