Chris Hunt Skelley MBE meets the Royals

Paralympian Chris Hunt Skelley MBE attended Buckingham Palace to meet the King and the Princess Royal at a reception for Olympians and Paralympians.

Chris, who lives in Wiltshire, achieved a momentous milestone by winning the bronze medal in judo at the Paris 2024 Paralympics in a new weight category after winning gold in Tokyo. He is officially one of the most successful Para Judo athletes the UK has ever produced and one of the world’s leading judoka.

“To be welcomed and honoured by the King and the Princess Royal was an amazing experience and it was wonderful for all of us to be recognised together – both Olympians and Paralympians – as elite athletes,” Chris said.

“It was a wonderful experience and I was able to share it with my wife Louise, also a former Paralympian.”

The reception was hosted by the King, the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Gloucester.

The King said: “Your achievements across so many disciplines were forged from that invaluable combination of raw talent, true grit and hard toil over many years…behind every medal won lies a wonderful story of courage, commitment and true talent.”

Chris, who is visually impaired due to oculocutaneous albinism, discovered his passion for judo when other sports were no longer safe for him. Judo became his sanctuary during a challenging time, and he quickly rose through the ranks by competing blindfolded and prevailing over sighted competitors.

His journey to Paris 2024 was not easy as he faced challenges over his classification around his condition which mean he was unable to compete in some key competitions – even though he had already qualified. These were hidden obstacles which most people knew nothing about.

“Getting to Paris was a journey like no other. Behind the scenes I was facing questions over my disability which had a negative impact on my mental health – it literally took me back to my teenage years when no one believed me when I said I couldn’t see.

“I’m so proud that I kept going, with the support of my closest family, friends and my team. For me, winning my bronze medal was an even greater achievement than winning gold in Tokyo,” Chris said.

Chris is now part of the Paralympian Paris Roadshow, travelling the UK with his para judo colleagues and running classes for those in grass roots martial arts and judo. He also has plans in 2025 to launch his own masterclass initiative on a private basis.