Prince Harry sends letter to tattoo artist thanking him for his ‘generosity’ and ‘skilful dodging of press questions’ after going to New York parlour to film clip for Invictus Games

The Duke of Sussex thanked an American tattoo artist for his ‘skilful dodging’ of ‘press questions’ regarding his visit last year.

Prince Harry, 40, took to East Side Ink in New York to film a sketch in which he appeared to be given a tattoo by American music star Jelly Roll, as part of the build-up to the Invictus Games in Canada.

In the footage, thought to have been filmed in September last year, the Montecito-based father of two squealed as he sat in a chair and received a fake tattoo from the country musician.

Now, East Side Ink owner Josh Lord has shared the personal letter that he received from Harry following his visit.

The letter, shared via Instagram, read, ‘Thank you so much for your generosity in offering us your space at East Side Ink for filming – it was incredibly kind, and I really enjoyed meeting you and learning more about the history of your shop.

‘I also appreciated your artful handling of press questions regarding my visit, it means a lot and I was rather impressed by your skilful dodging! Well done. They’ll be in shock when they see the final cut.’

He concluded, ‘Grateful for your partnership and support in service of the Invictus community. If you’d like to come to Vancouver in February, we’d love to have you!’ 

Josh shared the letter alongside two photographs with Harry from his visit on Sunday, and added in the caption, ‘Lord, Prince, and Jelly plus @brows.by.jen and @farmhandtattoo for @weareinvictusgames. 

The Duke of Sussex thanked the owner of East Side Ink in New York for his ‘skilful dodging’ of ‘press questions’ (pictured with Jelly Roll at the tattoo parlour)

‘Also my royal thank you letter named me as the skilful dodger, which is a pretty good nickname, really.’

The light-hearted clip started with Prince Harry in the Lower East Side tattoo parlour with Jelly Roll.

An excited Jelly Roll told the Duke: ‘Do you know I could not believe it when they called me and told me Prince Harry wanted to get a tattoo today, and he wanted me to give him his first tattoo?’

But a shocked Harry is quick to reply: ‘No, no, no, why are you wearing a glove?’, to which the singing star says: ‘We’re giving you a tattoo about the Invictus Games.’

‘No, I came here to ask you to do the Invictus Games,’ explained a surprised Harry. ‘There’s no tattoo in this. I can’t get a tattoo.’

But Jelly Roll is quick to come to a deal, saying: ‘I’ll play the Invictus Games. You just let me give you your first tattoo.’ Eventually Harry is convinced and replies: ‘Alright, screw it. Let’s go! Let’s do it. Where do you want it?’

‘We got to go for the neck,’ insisted the singer in the amusing clip. But the royal suggested: ‘The neck? I was thinking like my lower back or my a***.’

‘No, nobody wants to see your a***, Harry,’ Jelly Roll is quick to fire back, adding: ‘This is for the world. I’m thinking like, here, let me just show you.’

During his visit, Harry posed for a photograph with Josh Lord (pictured second left), Jelly Roll (second right) and East Side Ink staff

Josh shared the letter (pictured) that he received from the Montecito-based royal following his 2024 visit 

The singer then ‘tattoos’ the Invictus Games logo onto the prince, as well his own name, to which a shocked Harry said: ‘You put your name on my neck… are you serious? Oh s***.’

Shared on X by the tournament’s account, the caption for the video read: ‘The most… inking of a deal in Invictus Games history.

‘Watch when Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex meets @JellyRoll615 at East Side Ink Tattoo. Don’t miss this duo reuniting in Vancouver #IG25 Closing Ceremony Feb 16. Get tickets before they sell out.’

The tattoo parlour is renowned among celebrity circles, with the likes of ‘Avengers’ stars Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner all previously getting matching ink there.

East Side Ink, which opened in 1992, describes itself as one of the oldest tattoo parlours in New York City.

When it opened, the shop ‘catered exclusively to bikers and hard-core body-art aficionados’.

However, today it boasts of tattooing everyone from, ‘neighbourhood punks to Oscar-Winning celebrities’.

‘On any given day, you might find your favourite actor or musician getting tattooed right next to neighbourhood regulars,’ the website states.

The American tattoo artist said ‘skilful dodger’ was a ‘pretty good nickname’ in the post’s caption

The shop was listed as one of New York City’s best tattoo parlours on Time Out’s list for 2024.

It comes after the love child of King Albert II of Belgium said she feels ‘very sorry’ for the Duke of Sussex.

Princess Delphine, the result of an 18-year affair between the former monarch, 90, who abdicated in 2013, and Belgian aristocrat Sybille de Selys Longchamps, 83, commented on the British Royal Family in a new podcast episode.

Talking in the It’s Reigning Man with host Daniel Rosney, the 57-year-old said she follows Prince Harry’s circumstances in the news because of her admiration for Princess Diana.

‘Lady Diana was a part of my life when I was in England,’ Delphine, who previously lived in London but has since relocated to Brussels, said, adding, ‘She was just sunshine, in the news especially.’

Delphine claimed that Diana’s sudden death was complicated for Harry to process, and that speculation over his life since he left for Montecito with his former actress wife, Meghan Markle, counts as ‘bullying’.

Speaking in the podcast, Delphine said, ‘I feel very sorry for Harry, because I think that was traumatic for him.

‘I think Harry has suffered so much,’ she said, continuing, ‘He was traumatised, and it’s coming out now.

She added, ‘I understand the guy. He’s just traumatised, and so he’s doing these things and everyone is just bullying him but not thinking about his trauma, and I just find it terrible.’

For decades, the former King distanced himself from Princess Delphine and her mother to preserve his marriage.

After Princess Delphine was born in 1968, the King initially remained in frequent contact with his child and her mother. But when Delphine reached her 16th birthday, the King began to distance himself.

In 2013, the same year King Albert abdicated the throne due to health reasons and was succeeded by his son King Philippe, Princess Delphine launched a legal bid to be officially recognised as Albert’s daughter – which she won in October 2020.

Now Delphine has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family as are her two children Princess Joséphine of Belgium and Prince Oscar of Belgium who she shares with partner James O’Hare.

Speaking to Tatler in 2023, the princess, who is an artist, revealed her father’s rejection when she was young still hurts, but added she doesn’t blame him and holds no ill-will towards him.

She argued that royal life is ‘isolating’ and she believed her father had been badly advised at the time. However, she said, ‘You don’t just have a child and kick it.’

Reflecting on her seven-year legal battle, Delphine said the action she brought was not about money or status but ‘principles’.

Delphine has started attending royal engagements and said her relationship with her father has healed after years of bitterness.