Former US presidential bodyguard protects Prince Harry as royals fly to Germany for Invictus Games opener
Former US presidential bodyguard Chris Sanchez is once again putting himself in the line of fire to protect Prince Harry in Germany.
The former Secret Service agent arrived with Harry on a British Airways flight from London and was in the front of a car which took him to his luxury hotel in Dusseldorf.
He was pictured alongside Harry as they left the airport after being escorted from the BA plane and into a waiting car.
Since leaving royal life, Texas-born Sanchez has been Harry and Meghan’s main bodyguard and accompanies them on all their trips abroad and to the United States.
He is employed by his Houston-based private security firm, Touchstone Global, which provides close protection to business executives and other VIPs.
Chris Sanchez – dressed in a white shirt and black suit – accompanies Harry and Meghan on their trip to Dusseldorf for this year’s Invictus Games
Sanchez – with his hand on the car door – is a former US Secret Service agent, seen here protecting Barack Obama in Moneygall, Ireland, in 2011.
Mr Sanchez previously revealed he was inspired to become a bodyguard after watching Clint Eastwood film In The Line Of Fire (pictured)
Sanchez spent five years in the US Secret Service, spending two and a half years each with Barack Obama and George W Bush.
He is now Harry and Meghan’s main bodyguard, first seen observing the couple at the Invictus Games in The Hague in the Netherlands in 2022 after ‘Megxit’.
The powerfully built bodyguard previously revealed he was inspired to join the Secret Service after watching the Clint Eastwood film “In the Line of Fire.”
In an interview, he said, “I was in love with the whole mantra of the Secret Service and the mystique of the Secret Service.”
During a 14-year career, he became a member of the protection team for President George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Sanchez was first spotted with the couple when they attended the Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands, last year, their first joint trip abroad since “Megxit”, when they chose to leave their royal duties to live in California.
The burly former police officer mostly followed Meghan as she walked around the grounds.
He was always a step behind the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and gave orders to other members of the security services who accompanied the two men.
Sanchez was also by the couple’s side when they were involved in what their spokesperson called a “near-catastrophic pursuit” during a visit to New York in May.
The couple’s spokesperson claimed the pursuit by paparazzi photographers as they left New York’s Ziegfield Theater had put the lives of others at risk and said they were involved in a “relentless” chase » at high speed through the streets of Manhattan.
The Sussexes’ version of events was questioned by police who said only that their journey back to their private accommodation had been “difficult” but said no arrests had been made.
A US-based photography agency has denied its staff caused any problems for the couple.
Mr Sanchez watches as Harry and Meghan are greeted by a fan with a cuddly toy
The Duchess of Sussex, wearing a pinstriped jacket, is followed by Mr Sanchez last year
Prince Harry – in the rear passenger seat of the Range Rover – arrives at his Düsseldorf hotel on Friday
A visible police presence was established in the vicinity of the Hyatt Regency Hotel – the rightmost building – for the prince’s arrival.
Sánchez will accompany the Prince during his first official engagement of the Invictus Games later today.
He will meet the mayor of Düsseldorf at the city hall and sign a guestbook reserved for VIP visitors.
Harry will later walk three miles to the Merkur Spiel-Arena when he officially opens the Games in front of the 500 competitors, friends and family.
Harry is scheduled to speak for seven minutes to greet athletes from 21 nations.
The biggest joy of the evening will likely be for the Ukrainian team, with organizers saying they expect to have “goosebumps” as they enter.
Grammy Award-winning rapper Macklemore will perform at the end of the ceremony which will also include speeches from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Düsseldorf Mayor Dr Stephan Keller.
More than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the week-long games involving injured and disabled military veterans and currently serving personnel.
Harry would later appear on the German version of ‘Match of the Day’ where he spoke to the hosts of the Invictus Games show.
