Harry was not alone: Revealing the mysterious friend accompanying him during his appearance at the Frost Bank Center
While millions of eyes across the globe were fixed on London to witness the annual Trooping the Colour—the official birthday celebration for King Charles III—the Duke of Sussex chose to make an unexpected appearance at a different, high-profile sporting event on the other side of the Atlantic.
A Historic Match and a Notable Presence
On Saturday, June 13, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, fans were surprised to see Prince Harry in attendance for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The evening featured a tense and thrilling showdown between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. Currently holding a formidable 3-1 lead in the series, the Knicks are vying for their first NBA championship title in 53 years. The event drew a star-studded crowd, including luminaries such as Tracy Morgan, John Turturro, and Sydney Sweeney, all of whom gathered in hopes of witnessing a historic moment in American basketball.
Connections with Veterans and a Passion for Sports
Prince Harry was not alone. Accompanying the 41-year-old Duke was JP Lane, a distinguished U.S. Army veteran and a competitor in the Purple Heart Warrior Games. Lane is also slated to compete in the upcoming Invictus Games—the international adaptive sports tournament founded by the Prince—which is scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom next year.
Harry’s appearance in San Antonio was far from a spontaneous detour. According to sources close to the situation who spoke with PEOPLE, the Duke of Sussex had been in Texas for several days to attend the Warrior Games (running from June 13 to June 20). It was NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who personally extended the invitation for the Prince to attend this pivotal Game 5.
Notable Absence from a Significant Family Event
At the very same time Prince Harry was seated in the stands in Texas, the senior members of the British Royal Family were assembled in London for the Trooping the Colour parade. King Charles (77), Queen Camilla, Prince William—who performed his ceremonial duties on horseback—along with Kate Middleton and their children, were all present to witness the Royal Air Force flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony. The absence of Prince Harry, who has resided in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, since 2020, was entirely expected by both the public and international media.
A Passion for Sports Without Borders
For Prince Harry, appearing at a professional basketball arena is nothing new. The Duke of Sussex is well-known for his fervent passion for athletics. As recently as this past February, he and Meghan (44) captured headlines when they were spotted sitting beside Queen Latifah at the 75th NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, California.
While Harry has yet to publicly declare his allegiance to either team in the San Antonio series, he does have a unique connection to the history of the Spurs. He previously collaborated with Spurs legend David Robinson; in 2018, during a Coach Core event at Loughborough University, Harry and Meghan joined Robinson for an awards ceremony and even engaged in a lighthearted netball match.
The Prince’s journey across the U.S. has been marked by his frequent attendance at major sporting events, ranging from the Super Bowl with Princess Eugenie and the 2025 World Series alongside Meghan, to the Stockyards Championship Rodeo in Texas. As the NBA Finals continue with mounting intensity, the Duke of Sussex’s presence once again reaffirms his enduring commitment to world-class sporting platforms, even while monumental family traditions unfold halfway across the world.
