A WOUNDED veteran from Hull who bagged two medals at Prince Harry's Invictus Games has told how she was on the receiving end of his tongue-in-cheek ginger jibes.
The Invictus Games saw more than 400 sick, injured and wounded servicemen and women from 13 nations compete over four days in London.
Flame-haired Claire Edwards collected bronze medals in cycling during the inaugural games in the capital.
Ms Edwards, 40, who lives off Spring Bank West, west Hull, said: "Prince Harry teased me all week for being ginger.
"He told me he had every right to tease me, because he is ginger, too!"
Ms Edwards, who was injured in Iraq in 2007, described the experience of competing in front of thousands and TV cameras as "surreal".
"That's probably the best word to describe it," said the former Royal Corps of Signals corporal.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"My phone has been going ballistic with people texting and calling me to say they've seen me on telly."
Ms Edwards was not the only Hull representative at the games.
Craig Gadd, 41, of Beverley Road, claimed a gold in sitting volleyball. He also came fourth and fifth in cycling events.
Great Britain beat rivals USA 3-0 in a convincing volleyball performance.
The father of two, who expects to be medically discharged from Hull-based Army Reserve unit 299 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers later this month, said: "It's been amazing.
"To represent my country again was fantastic.
"I think it's a natural thing for the guys to have that competitive edge having been in the military and to love being part of a competitive team.
"We want to win and we're willing to fight, so we'll crack on."
Mr Gadd, who has received therapy at Headley Court, in Surrey, since losing his left leg to a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan in 2010, praised Prince Harry for being a man of his word.
"Prince Harry came to Headley Court back in November last year and asked us what we thought about the idea for the Invictus Games, and now we're actually here at an amazing event like this," he said.
"It's almost at an Olympic or Paralympic level.
"I was watching the wheelchair rugby and it was just awesome, the crowd behind us all and everything, so when it was our turn I was so excited."
Meanwhile, Carolyne Dufley, also of Hull, claimed gold in the wheelchair rugby and women's heavyweight powerlifting.
"Getting the gold medals means more than anything else I've ever wanted in my life," said Ms Dufley.
"We've all worked so hard, so many hours of training and dedication, falling out of chairs and getting bruises.
"The rugby is a huge highlight for me. We put so much in, and it's an honour to win that gold medal for our coaches because they've put in so much.
"We were nervous about playing our rivals, Team USA, in the final, but we were at home and did it our way, which is in style."
The Invictus Games was brought to a close with a sell-out concert at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Sunday evening.
About 26,000 people applauded the acts, which included the Foo Fighters and Kaiser Chiefs.
The grand finale also saw Games organiser Prince Harry urging the crowd to create a Mexican wave.
