Prince William, heir to the British throne as the eldest son of King Charles, welcomed a close ally of his estranged bother Prince Harry at the royal house on Wednesday.
Paralympic cycling champion Jaco van Gass, who happens to be a close friend of the Duke of Sussex, was presented an OBE by the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on June 25.
The 38-year-old received the honour for his services to cycling, marking a significant moment with William.
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The recipient of the award enjoyed strong ties to Harry through years of charity work and participation in the Invictus Games.
He previously received an MBE in 2022. He was among several recipients at the ceremony, which also saw England football manager Gareth Southgate receive a knighthood.
Kathryn, van Gass' wife, celebrated her husband's milestone achievement on her official Instagram Story, writing "Jaco van Gass OBE" alongside a photograph of the athlete at the castle.
He has excelled in competitive cycling, earning multiple gold medals at the Invictus Games. van Gass' relationship with Harry spans many years, with the two men sharing experiences that forged a deep bond.
Van Gass has competed at Harry's Invictus Games multiple times, describing the King's youngest son "a good lad and very down to earth" in an August 2021 interview.
Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said goodbye to senior royal duties in 2020 to live in California with Archie, their relationship has deteriorated significantly.
"Harry and Meghan are highlighting a life of fun and lightness while William's is dominated by duty and public service. They are worlds apart," a source told Us Weekly.
