Prince Harry and Meghan Markle thank First Nations youth ambassadors for ‘welcoming the Invictus Games onto their sacred land’ after Sussexes spend evening with indigenous group

Prince Harry and Meghan thanked First Nations youth ambassadors for “welcoming the Invictus Games to their sacred land” at a reception in Canada.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex toured the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center in Whistler as part of their two-day trip from California to showcase next year’s event, which will be the first to include winter sports.

The couple was joined by youth ambassadors, Chief Nelson and Wilson Williams before attending a reception where artists who created the Invictus Games logo debuted their artwork.

The collaboration marks the first time that all four First Nations of Canada, one of three Indigenous groups recognized in the country, have collaborated on the same artwork.

A statement on the couple’s new Sussex.com website read: ‘The evening and presentation were extremely meaningful. IG2025 and the couple couldn’t be more proud to share the artist’s artwork with the world.

“The couple recognizes the importance of First Nations communities welcoming the Invictus Games to their sacred lands and are grateful for the warmth and hospitality.”

Earlier today, Harry and Meghan were photographed smiling and holding hands as they arrived at a picturesque ski resort in Whistler, watched by what appeared to be their own film crew.

The former Suits star also appeared to film on her phone as Harry tried out a ski chair for disabled athletes and spoke to instructors and competitors training for Invictus 2025.

Harry once tried sit-skiing and before he left he had joked, “Do I have to sign a waiver?”

Afterward, a group serenaded the couple with a rendition of “God Save The King.” Meghan waved as she got into a jeep while Harry may have spoken to them. One skier said, “He was very nice.”

They seemed completely unaffected by the row over their website at Sussex.com – and criticism over their use of the royal ties, despite their differences with the Windsors and an agreement with the Queen not to use their HRH titles for business purposes or trade. of their royal connections.

The Whistler trip is also their first public appearance as a couple since King Charles was diagnosed with cancer. Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, appear to have remained at home in Montecito.

Meghan was all smiles and glamor in skinny white jeans and a sweater topped with a beige quilted jacket. She showed off her £140,000 engagement ring.

The Duchess has not been seen publicly with the glittering band, consisting of a huge Botswana diamond and two from Princess Diana’s collection, since May 2023.

Harry was dressed in jeans and a black Eddie Bauer anorak as he arrived for a training session with athletes planning to compete in the 2025 Games.

The pair were seen bending down to chat to athletes taking part in the competitions, with Harry trying out one of the competitors’ sit-skis, as they were followed closely by a camera crew. Meghan was seen laughing with officials as she used her cellphone to gather content.

Harry and Meghan left the gondola on Whistler’s Blackcomb Mountain shortly after 2:30pm local time and were introduced to three groups of adaptive skiers: an Alpine sit ski, a standing ski and a group of visually impaired athletes.

Their trip to Canada comes as the couple are embroiled in a series of controversies – one over their new Sussex.com website and another over Harry’s flying visit to London last week to see King Charles following his cancer diagnosis.

Alex Cairns, a sit skier from Canada, was the first to meet the Sussexes and give a demonstration of the sport – arriving at the foot of the slope to Harry’s cheers.

The Whistler games will be the first time Invictus has offered winter sports.

The couple arrived in Canada on Tuesday and were photographed by DailyMail.com landing in Vancouver just after noon Pacific Time after a two-hour flight from Santa Barbara – the closest airport to their home in Montecito.

Their arrival came on the same day Meghan announced she had signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media after she and Harry parted ways with Spotify.

A convoy of cars picked up the famous duo and took them to Whistler, where they will be Wednesday and Thursday before returning to Vancouver on Friday for an event in the City of Glass.

The couple are then expected to travel home to California on Friday afternoon to be reunited with their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, two.

The Duke and Dutchess are currently embroiled in an ongoing feud over their rebranded ‘royal’ website Sussex.com – complete with Meghan’s coat of arms – which critics claim is a breach of their promise to the late Queen when she bitterly left the front line of the royal family. duties.

Sources say the couple have not consulted palace officials about the use of their Sussex titles.

A source close to the couple defended the use of their royal titles, saying: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That’s a fact. It’s their last name and family name.’