Prince Harry will return to Britain in just a few days for the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, his first visit since Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis.
A spokesperson for Invictus Games confirmed that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, May 8.
Actor Damian Lewis is expected to recite the Invictus poem at St Paul’s to mark the anniversary of the games for wounded servicemen.
A statement published on Invictus Games’ social media read: ‘The Invictus Games Foundation is celebrating 10 years of changing lives and saving lives with a ‘Service of Thanksgiving’ at St Paul’s Cathedral on 8 May.
“We will be joined by our patron, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, actor Damian Lewis and members of the global Invictus community to celebrate this occasion.”
However, Meghan Markle is not mentioned. Since the event takes place just two days after their son Archie turns five, there’s a good chance she’ll stay home.
The couple lives in Montecito, California with their two children, Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.
The visit marks the Duke of Sussex’s first time in Britain since his last 26-hour trip in February after his father, King Charles, announced his cancer diagnosis.
It is unclear whether the prince is planning a visit to his sister-in-law, who recently revealed she is undergoing cancer treatment.
Prince Harry will return to Britain in a few days for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but he will likely come solo while Meghan remains in Montecito.
Prince Harry and Meghan on day four of Invictus Games 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany
It is unclear whether the prince is planning a visit to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton, who recently revealed she is undergoing cancer treatment
A statement published on the Invictus Games social media confirmed the prince’s attendance
Harry and Meghan attended a preparatory event for the Games in the United States last year.
The 39-year-old Prince launched the games at London’s Copper Box Arena in March 2014 and will see them take place again in Britain after the government launched a £26 million bid to host the event.
It comes after the Duke of Sussex lost a High Court case against the Home Office over a decision to cut his taxpayer-funded personal security when he visits Britain.
Harry took legal action against the measure taken by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), after he was told he would no longer receive the same level of government-funded protection when he was in Britain – including all Invictus Games related visits.
Last month, Harry was in Canada for Vancouver Whistler 2025’s One Year to Go celebration, which aimed to raise awareness of the 2025 Invictus Games, which will take place between February 8 and 16 next year.
While in Canada, the Duke of Sussex spoke with Good Morning America reporter Will Reeve about King Charles’ shock diagnosis, life with his family in California and his thoughts on becoming a U.S. citizen.
The Duke of Sussex and Michael Buble curling on the final day of the One Year to Go event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 on February 16, 2024
Harry and Meghan will attend the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025 One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on February 15
The Duke of Sussex revealed he was ‘grateful’ to have seen his father Charles III in person during a short 24-hour visit to Britain and hopes the diagnosis can have a ‘reuniting effect’ on the royal family.
Senior royals will have to take a stand if they support the event, which they did at the first games in 2014 when the then Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince William appeared alongside Harry for the opening ceremony.
But at that time he was a full-time working royal, and any tensions and arguments were not expressed in public.
Since 2014, the Invictus Games have grown into a popular global sporting competition involving 22 countries and more than 500 athletes.
It is an incredibly important piece of work for Prince Harry and one of his last remaining legacies from his time working full-time at the Royal – and one he is very proud of. The games also allow him to reconnect with other military veterans.
Earlier this month, Prince Harry updated his details in this country to clarify that he no longer lives in Britain.
Documents published today by Companies House for ‘Prince Henry Charles Albert David, Duke of Sussex’ state that his ‘new country/state ordinarily resident’ is now the US. It was previously registered as the United Kingdom.
The move raises questions over whether the prince will remain at Frogmore Cottage during the games, after the king asked him and his family to leave.
It comes shortly after it emerged that the king has been cleared by doctors to return to public duties after being diagnosed with cancer.
His Majesty is not yet free from the disease and is still undergoing treatment, but his medical team is reportedly “pleased with the progress made so far” and “remains positive” about his recovery.
King Charles greets Kate at an event at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2021. The King’s offer praised the Princess’s “courage” after her announcement
To mark the good news, Buckingham Palace has also announced two major milestone events, the first of many in the coming months, and has gratefully thanked Their Majesties for all the well wishes they have received.
Kate and Charles are known to have formed a strong bond in the 13 years since her marriage to his son Prince William, when she was welcomed into the royal family.
And this relationship is said to have been ‘cemented’ by both senior royals having operations at the same time in January.
Kate referred to “all those whose lives have been affected by cancer” in her public video message, adding: “You are not alone.” And this was also seen as a clear nod to Charles.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have contacted the Prince and Princess of Wales ‘privately’ after Kate announced her cancer diagnosis.
They also released a statement to Harper’s Bazaar magazine, saying: “We wish Kate and the family health and healing.”
In her statement, the Princess of Wales revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer in January following a ‘planned abdominal operation’.
She said she had postponed making a public announcement so she and her husband Prince William could tell their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Her statement came amid mounting speculation about the princess’s whereabouts in the months following her surgery.