Disabled veterans ‘are frustrated senior royals are shunning Invictus Games amid row with Harry and Meghan’: Buckingham Palace ‘looks petty by saying more about the Highland Games’ and family ‘ill will should not be held against competitors’, sources say
Veterans have become frustrated that the Invictus Games do not receive the attention from senior royals that other sporting events enjoy – with Buckingham Palace made to look ‘petty and mean-spirited’ by not paying enough attention to it, it has been claimed.
Earlier this month, King Charles attended the Highland Games – an event that was a firm favorite of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II – with the Duchess of Cornwall.
They were joined by Anne, Princess Royal and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence at the games which have been part of Scottish culture for hundreds of years.
But there have been no such performances in Dusseldorf, Germany, where the Invictus Games are held.
There is now a sense of frustration among some British athletes who… efforts go unrecognized by public figures – including senior royals – who are quick to send well wishes to competitors at other international events, The Telegraph reports.
Critics claim the royal family’s “ill will” towards Harry should not be used against the disabled veterans fighting.
The lack of attention Buckingham Palace is paying to Prince Harry’s Invictus Games ‘looks petty’ and ‘petty’, a media strategist has said. Meghan Markle and the Duke pictured at the Games on Wednesday
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the Braemar Highland Gathering on September 2
In 2014, the then Prince Charles, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William attended the opening ceremony of the first ever Invictus Games in London. But the royal family has not commented on the event for several years.
An anonymous British media strategist said: ‘It is ironic that Buckingham Palace has more say in the Highland Games than the Invictus Games, despite the honorary military roles they play.
“It makes the palace look mean-spirited and mean-spirited. The ill will against Harry should not be used against the Invictus competitors.”
Former Royal Marine Ben McBean said he understood both sides of the ‘rift’ between the brothers, but added they should have put their differences aside.
Mr McBean, who lost both an arm and a leg in Afghanistan and inspired Prince Harry to start the Games, added that the team should have been given a shout-out.
And a Team UK insider said the athletes find the lack of support from public figures ‘bizarre’ but do not want to get caught in the ‘royal crossfire’.
An official within the British team told The Telegraph that with the event’s growing scale and the royal family’s recent focus on sporting competitions, there could have been more support from home.
Palace sources reportedly say that members of the royal family never interfere in each other’s professional endeavors, and they wouldn’t expect the duke to do so either. voice support for the finalists of William’s Earthshot Prize, for example.
The Prince and Princess of Wales played an important role in the early stages of the Invictus Games.
Meghan was as excited as ever at the games with Prince Harry
On Tuesday, Meghan Markle accompanied the Duke at the games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena
Prince William, Prince of Wales, pictured in the stands during the Rugby World Cup France 2023
September 9, Marseille: The Princess of Wales supports her favorite team for the rugby match between England and Argentina
September 10, Bordeaux: Prince William at the Rugby World Cup in France
King Charles III and Queen Camilla at The Braemar Gathering 2023 at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 2
The Royal Foundation, shared by Prince Harry at the time, invested significant sums in the event.
Meanwhile, Harry’s brother Prince William continued his charity work in London yesterday, visiting a construction site to discuss the mental health of construction workers.
His sister-in-law Kate has also made royal visits this week and went to HMP High Down in Surrey on Tuesday to learn more about the work of an addiction charity.
King Charles III visited Tomintoul in the Cairngorms, where he was welcomed by primary school children and community stalwarts.
The Invictus Games are one of the major projects that Prince Harry has continued since his departure from the royal family.
He was given a hero’s welcome in Germany by those present at the latest edition of the competition he founded for wounded and disabled military veterans.
Harry arrived at the event, followed by dozens of excited schoolchildren who had been given time off from their studies to attend.
Harry has said he plans to attend as many events as possible during the week-long competition.
On Tuesday, Meghan Markle joined the Duke at the games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena, where the pair were seen smiling and delighted as they watched numerous sporting events.
The Duchess was seen wearing a stars and stripes badge yesterday as she cheered on her home country during the wheelchair basketball match between the US and France.