Obamas challenge Queen and Prince Harry to the Invictus Games

It helps to have friends in high places when you're promoting an athletic event.

That's certainly the case for Prince Harry, who released a video on Friday promoting the upcoming Invictus Games for wounded veterans.

The cast includes his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and Barack and Michelle Obama, who were dinner guests of Harry's last week.

The video starts with Harry and the Queen looking at an Invictus brochure when they get a video phone message from Mrs Obama.

It shows the Obamas accepting Harry's challenge to the Invictus Games, with a man in uniform behind them saying "Boom!"

The Queen, bemused by the Americans, says, "Oh really? Please."

Harry then says "Boom!" with a wicked grin.

Elizabeth also made a video with 007 star Daniel Craig for the 2012 London Olympics.

- nzherald.co.nz