Prince Harry has been hit by a fresh blow after his ally and close friend John James "JJ" Chalmers stepped down as a trustee from the Duke’s Invictus Games.
The Royal Marines reservist and broadcaster, who was seriously wounded in the line of duty, has left his role after only two years in post.
Mr Chalmers was appointed to the role in 2022 and celebrated the Games’s “transformational power” in helping wounded and sick veterans and still serving armed forces members.
The 38-year-old also captained the trike team to a gold medal in the inaugural 2014 games, which he credited as the “catalyst in my recovery” from his own injuries.
John James "JJ" Chalmers, a friend and ally of Prince Harry, is stepping down as trustee of the Invictus Games
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In May 2011, Mr Chalmers was stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and suffered severe injuries from a roadside bomb that took the life of two other marines.
He lost a large part of his right arm, two fingers on his left hand and suffered facial injuries in the IED blast.
Despite his reverence for Invictus in helping bring him back from his injuries, the 38-year-old has had to leave his active role in the Games behind.
Commitments to his two young children and workload elsewhere have meant it was not feasible for Mr Chalmers to extend his two-year stint, the Dail Mail reported.
The Afghanistan veteran is leaving his trustee role after two years to focus on work and family commitments
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“(Mr Chalmers) He'll continue to work in an ambassadorial role for Invictus,” a source assured the paper.
The veteran’s departure comes just two months after her refreshed his reverence for the Invictus Games.
“None of it would have been possible without the Invictus Games,” Mr Chalmers said, reflecting on his recovery.
Prince Harry will likely be buoyed by the good news that two other trustees appointed in 2022 will continue in post.
Mr Chalmers won gold at the inaugural 2014 Invictus Games as captain of the trike team
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Jonathan Edwards, record breaking Olympic gold medallist and broadcaster, is set to remain at the charity.
Conny Wenting, who was CEO of the 2020 Games at the Hauge, will also stay on board.
Mr Chalmers’s exit is not the only executive to break with the charity in recent months.
In July, it was announced that Mickaela Richards, who also competed in the inaugural 2014 London Games before becoming a key executive at Invictus.
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The broadcaster will continue on in an 'ambassadorial' role for Invictus
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For 10 years, Ms Richards had been at the helm the charity’s Grants and Programmes Director.
Rob Owen OBE, the Foundation's CEO, expressed mixed emotions about Ms Richards' departure.
"We are saddened to see Mickaela go, and are immensely grateful for her contributions and commitment to our mission," he stated.
The Foundation announced Richards' departure with a formal farewell statement, acknowledging her decade-long commitment to supporting wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans.