SEE THE PICS: Prince Harry hams it up with rooster mascot at Invictus Games

Prince Harry proved to be in his element as his beloved Invictus Games kicked off at the weekend in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The beaming royal looked to be in great spirits as he was seen taking in several events at the games, which runs from 9 to 16 September.

Harry served two tours in war-torn Afghanistan as a RAF helicopter pilot and started the games, styled on the Paralympics, back in 2014 for sick, wounded and injured servicemen and -women.

READ MORE | Prince Harry opens up on how his army experience triggered emotions about his mom's death

Although he's come across in public looking rather glum of late, the prince seemed to be the Harry of old, laughing and joking around with the French rooster mascot at his first appearance at this year's games.

Noticeably absent was his wife, Meghan, who was scheduled to have joined him but whose name had mysteriously disappeared from the official schedule.

However, according to some royal experts, it could be a publicity stint to drum up momentum for the event and the American former actress may well arrive for the closing ceremony.

The Duke of Sussex at the event's opening ceremony alongside Invictus Games Foundation CEO Dominic Reid (left) and Boris Pistorius, minister of defence in Germany. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Harry was given a warm welcome by attendees despite a year of turmoil. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

He gives the games' mascot a thumbs-up while attending the powerlifting event on day 1 of the games. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

He even gave the rooster mascot a friendly hug. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

READ MORE | Prince Harry's determined to continue the fight after judge throws out his phone-hacking claims

After a difficult year, the duke will be keen to make a good impression – and the Invictus Games, long said to be his passion project, is where he shines most.

Harry received a standing ovation as he took to the stage for the opening ceremony.

The prince meets competitors as he attends the track and field event on day 2 of the games. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Harry greets Denmark's Kasper Holm Henriksen as he attends a track and field event on day 2. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The royal shares a tender moment with Colombian athlete Francisco Pedraza after attending the athletics event. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

In an impassioned speech in which he spoke some German and cracked a few jokes, he hinted Meghan would be coming to cheer on not just the American team but the Nigerian one too.

“We don’t play favourites but after my wife found out she is of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little competitive,” he joked.

Last year Meghan announced in her now-defunct Archetypes podcast that she is partly Nigerian after doing a genealogy test.

Meghan Markle joined her husband on stage at the event's closing ceremony in The Hague, Netherlands, last year. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The fifth in line to the British throne wasn't the only one who received a standing ovation.

The arrival of the Ukrainian team also had the audience on their feet, especially after Harry singled out team member Yuliia "Taira" Paievska, who featured in his new Heart of Invictus Netflix series after she was captured by the Russians.

READ MORE | Harry and Meghan continue to build their brand amid rumours of trouble in paradise

As one member of the Great Britain team put it, “Harry may not get good headlines anywhere else but he's not going to get a bad word off me.”

Sources: news.sky.com, express.co.uk, youtube.com