Prince Harry may be poised to secure a major financial boost for next year's Invictus Games as Amazon is reported to be set to agree terms on a big-money sponsorship deal for the event in Birmingham.

Harry, 42, founded the international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans in 2014, and the Games will return to Britain for the first time since their inaugural London staging when Birmingham hosts the event from 10 to 17 July 2027.

The reported Amazon deal talks come as preparations intensify for the eighth Invictus Games, which are expected to bring 550 competitors from 25 nations to the West Midlands.

A source told The Sun: "The deal would be a shot in the arm for Invictus and Harry. The Invictus committee are really hoping it gets over the line.

"Amazon wanted to get involved. They already do a lot to back veterans, including employment programmes.

"The games are a big undertaking and expensive. And it's interesting Amazon are Netflix's big rival. It maybe shows Harry and Meg moving in a different direction with a new partner."

The proposed deal would give Amazon branding around the Games and provide another major commercial name behind the competition.

Amazon already has extensive links with the Armed Forces community. The company introduced its UK military veterans recruitment programme in 2011 and has operated employment and career programmes aimed at veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses.

The potential partnership would also attract attention because Amazon's Prime Video competes with Netflix, where Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, 45, established their biggest television partnership after stepping back as working members of the royal family.

Their Netflix projects have included the 2022 documentary series Harry Meghan, while the streaming service also released Heart of Invictus in 2023, following competitors preparing for the Games in The Hague. The Invictus Games Foundation said at the time that the series was produced by the couple's Archewell Productions as part of its creative partnership with Netflix.

Meghan, who became internationally known playing Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, has subsequently developed lifestyle programming for the streaming service.

The reported Amazon sponsorship discussions come during a particularly significant period for Harry and Invictus following his return to Britain with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.

Harry made his first public appearance since the family's return at the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich this month, where he met wounded veterans and appeared in black tie wearing his military medals.

He followed the London event with a visit to Ninestiles School in Birmingham to launch INSPIRE, an education programme linked to the 2027 Games, and played pickleball with pupils.

Speaking about the competition during his return to Britain, Harry said: "It's great to be back on British soil, and looking forward to Birmingham next year for the Invictus Games that's coming up."

He has also attended the WellChild Awards in London, continuing his longstanding association with the charity, of which he has been patron since 2007.

Preparations for Birmingham 2027 have meanwhile accelerated.

Livewire Pictures has been appointed to produce the opening and closing ceremonies and act as host broadcaster, delivering coverage across all 12 adaptive sports, daily live streams, highlights and international broadcast services.

Further announcements about broadcast partners are expected.

The Games will be centred on Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, with swimming taking place at Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

The programme will include established Invictus sports alongside newer additions including pickleball, esports and laser run.

Harry created Invictus after attending the US Warrior Games in 2013 and seeing the role adaptive sport could play in the recovery of injured service personnel. The first Games were held at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park the following year, involving more than 400 competitors from 13 nations.

The Invictus Games Foundation's latest published material lists sponsors including American Airlines, BetterUp, Boeing, Brigantes, Clifford Chance and Monster.

Its Birmingham 2027 website has announced a series of partnerships in recent weeks, but has not yet publicly announced Amazon as a sponsor.