“He has a comedic flair,” says the store owner (exclusively)

“He didn’t say no, but he definitely expressed curiosity” – East Side Ink owner Josh Lord tells PEOPLE exclusively about the possibility of the Duke of Sussex getting a real tattoo

Prince Harry‘S mysterious visit to a tattoo parlor during his September trip to New York left many questions unanswered. But the world now knows what happened at the store on the Lower East Side.

The 40-year-old Duke of Sussex was filming a promotion for the upcoming Invictus Games at East Side Inkone of the oldest tattoo shops in New York

In funny videowhich was released on November 18, Harry can be seen sitting in a chair waiting for his tattoo artist when the country star Jelly roll unexpectedly appears. The two casually exchange information until they finally reach an agreement: Jelly, 39, will give Harry a tattoo in exchange for his involvement in performing at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in February in Canada. After some playful banter about where Harry should get the ink (“I was thinking lower back or butt,” Harry jokes), Jelly declares, “We need to do the neck!” Inspired by the Invictus Games “I Am” logo, singer Roll tattoos “I Am Jelly Roll” in the same style.

The author of the fake ink (yes, it’s fake!) is Josh Lord, the owner of East Side Ink, who appears at the beginning of the movie with Harry.

“It’s all in honor of the Invictus Games,” Lord tells PEOPLE exclusively, referring to the international adaptive sports event Harry founded in 2014 for wounded and sick service members and veterans. “When they asked me to take part in it, I was delighted. I had no idea I would feature so much in this film. It was exciting to be a part of this event. “

In addition to appearing in the video, Lord, who is known for his intricate custom tattoos and whose clients include Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, also designed a fake tattoo on Harry’s neck.

“Luckily, I have a long history with fake tattoos and wasn’t originally planning on this part, so I was able to provide a small level of assistance,” says Lord, who won an Emmy for his realistic work on HBO’s first season A real detective.

Related: Prince Harry’s Invictus Games 2025 presents an all-star lineup: Jelly Roll, Barenaked Ladies and The War and Treaty

As for who decided whether the tattoo should be placed on Harry’s neck, Lord says: “Jelly is fearless and Harry knew it had to be epic, so they had a real moment where they both knew where they had to go after all these jokes.”

Did Harry stay after filming to get his first real tattoo? Not yet, but the Lord doesn’t rule it out.

“He didn’t say no, but he definitely expressed curiosity,” he says.

In a room full of tattoo artists who tell the royal family more breathtaking stories than they ever imagined, the Lord reveals that Harry was the biggest surprise of all.

“Without a doubt, the funniest person was Harry,” she says. “Here we are, a room full of people who have seen some things before, but Harry was probably the bravest and funniest of all of us, really. He has comedic skills behind the scenes that I didn’t expect.”

Including Harry’s believable scream as the needle enters his neck. “That was the first try!” The Lord says with a laugh.

“He’s a very laid-back, normal guy if you let him be,” she continues. “I can’t imagine the world he grew up in and how difficult it must have been, but he has managed to maintain a level of humanity and kindness in everything he does, which is extraordinary.”

Robyn McVicker, chief operating officer of Invictus Games, tells PEOPLE that the video concept “didn’t take a lot of convincing” for Harry and Jelly Roll.

“They were both supposed to be in New York – I think the transfer was about two hours – and their teams briefed them on the situation and they both gave it their all,” he says. “They were very excited to connect. “The Prince was delighted that Jelly Roll agreed to play at the closing ceremony.”

As for his role as Lord, McVicker says he was the real “star of the show.”

“He was amazing and really created a safe space for everyone to hang out and make one of the funniest announcement videos ever,” she says.

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The renowned tattoo artist admits that their goal was to bring an “element of lightness” to a serious issue – the well-being of veterans, which is central to the Invictus mission. The issue is equally important for East Side Ink employees. Lord, along with his partners Yadira Mendez-Firvida and Jen Terban-Hertell, are involved in a veteran-led nonprofit SAR Flag (Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag)which works to break the stigma around mental health, suicide and seeking treatment in the veteran community, ultimately supporting suicide prevention efforts among veterans and military personnel.

“We can’t fully comprehend the mental stress they experience,” Lord says of veterans. “I can only hope that the moment I participated in will shed light on this crucial issue.”