'Cherish this moment': Prince Harry tweets a rousing message wishing Invictus athletes success in Rio as the Paralympic Games get underway 

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Prince Harry has sent a special message to Invictus Games competitors who competing in the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

The 31-year-old royal, who is patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, took to social media on Monday afternoon to issue a rallying cry to the athletes - telling them to 'cherish this moment'.

Eleven Invictus athletes have been selected to compete in the Paralympic Games which start on Wednesday - including Elizabeth Marks, the American swimmer with whom he struck a special friendship during the Invictus Games in Orlando in May.

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Prince Harry took to social media on Monday afternoon to issue a rallying cry to the Invictus athletes heading to the Rio Paralympics - telling them to 'cherish this moment'

In a series of tweets signed off 'H' for Harry, the prince wrote: 'To those @WeAreInvictus #Rio2016 competitors, what an incredible achievement - well done for your selection.

'You've trained harder than ever, but the fight to the finish line won't be easy. You know this better than anyone.

'Cherish this moment as you get to serve your country again. Absorb the applause and atmosphere, but most importantly - have fun! H.'

Harry's tweets have been shared hundreds of times on Twitter and more than 4,700 times on Instagram. 

The athletes, from Australia, Great Britain, Italy and USA, include Brit para-triahlete Joe Townsend and athlete Dave Henson. 

Speaking to the Invictus Games Foundation, Harry added: 'I remember watching these competitors at the 2014 and 2016 Invictus Games. And now they've been selected for the Rio Paralympic Games. 

Harry greets competitors onstage at the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 closing ceremony. The 31-year-old royal has been patron of the foundation since he set it up in 2014

Eleven Invictus athletes will compete in the Paralympic Games which start on Wednesday - including Australian para-canoeist Curtis Mcgrath (left) and British athlete Dave Henson (right)

'I can't think of a better example of showing how important sport can be for recovery.

'I know they'll compete with the same Invictus spirit that we saw in London and Orlando – motivated not just by winning, but by pushing their bodies and minds to the absolute limit to prove to the world there is life beyond injury.

'They will lift everyone around them and whether you're watching in Rio or on TV around the world, they will inspire you. I'm incredibly proud of what they've achieved and will be cheering on every single competitor during the Games.'

In May, Harry presented a gold medal to military medic, Sergeant Elizabeth Marks, who won the prize in the Invictus swimming finals (pictured) and will compete in Rio this week

Making friends: There was a moment of light relief when the duo ended up in stitches in the competitors' tent as Elizabeth dressed Harry up in her petite Games uniform jacket

In May, Harry presented a gold medal to military medic, Arizona-born Sergeant Elizabeth Marks, who won the prize in the Invictus swimming finals.

But the couple shared an even more moving moment when the swimming champion, who sustained hip injuries in Iraq in 2010, gave Harry her 100m freestyle gold medal to pass on to the British hospital that saved her life when she arrived in the UK to take part in the 2014 Invictus Games.

However, there was a moment of light relief when the duo ended up in stitches in the competitors' tent as she dressed him up in her petite Games uniform jacket. 

The pair appeared to strike up an immediate bond and as Harry presented her with the medal, he grasped Elizabeth, who's now based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, around the shoulders while she laid her hands on his elbows before kissing both cheeks.

But shortly after the presentation, the swimmer called him back and instead pressed the medal into his hand, asking him to pass it on to the Papworth heart and lung hospital in Cambridgeshire.

The royal initially refused but she approached him again and this time he accepted - a touching moment that was captured by the cameras at the Games.