It is believed Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet instead stayed at Althorp, Northants, which is owned by Harry’s uncle Earl Spencer and is also where his late mother Princess Diana is buried
The Duchess of Sussex has landed in Britain for the first time in four years, but today stayed away from an official event for Prince Harry’s beloved Invictus Games.
Meghan, 44, had originally been expected to join Harry at the one-year to go celebration at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. But despite having landed in the UK with their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, she was not by the royal’s side at this morning’s event.
A source close to the couple said the duchess was unable to attend the event due to security concerns caused by the family being refused police protection. It is believed she and their children instead stayed at Althorp, Northants, which is owned by Harry’s uncle Earl Spencer and is also where his late mother Princess Diana is buried.
The disappointment came three days after Harry, 41, discovered he had lost his high-profile court battle against Associated Newspapers. It also followed further upset for the prince after he was told he couldn’t stay at Buckingham Palace.
A team of uniformed police officers were today seen entering hall one at the NEC, where Harry was later joined by a supporters, including Labour MP Al Carns, who resigned as defence minister last month over a row about military spending, and former Invictus competitor turned TV presenter JJ Chalmers.
Mr Carns described security at the venue as “wire tight”, but when asked if he was disappointed by the Duchess not attending the event, he said: “It’s not down to me to comment on Prince Harry’s private business, but what I will say is Prince Harry is a veteran, he’s a hero just like the rest of the veterans that served so having him championing Invictus is absolutely great.”
Asked if hopes the Duchess will come to the NEC when the event begins a year today and whether he thinks it will be safe for her to do so, Mr Carns said: “Again, it’s not for me to comment on Prince Harry’s personal life, but I will say he’s a hero just like the rest of the veterans and having him here championing this event is superb.”
Today’s event comes five days after Harry’s return to the UK was thrown into chaos just hours before he was due to arrive in the UK after his spokesman announced on Monday morning that he had finally accepted an offer to stay at a royal residence for his visit this week. However, just minutes later, Palace sources confirmed his request had been denied because they said he sent it too late.
Last Friday, after apparently learning they had lost a security review, it was reported Meghan, Archie and Lilibet would not join Harry in London due to security concerns and that plans for the trio were being reassessed. The decision by the Sussexes came after 10 days of discussions, which it was claimed reduced Harry to tears.
The prince today attempted to put a brave face on the latest blow to his trip by carrying out the event at the NEC on his own. He took part in “sporting showcases” of new events that will feature in next year’s Invictus Games, including pickleball, laser run and hybrid athletics. He also took part in a demonstration of wheelchair rugby alongside Mr Carns and TV presenter Ade Adepitan.
Despite Meghan not being there, Harry appeared to be enjoying the event, which saw him shout encouragement to other veterans while taking part in and observing the various sports. At one point, he conducted a jovial video call with a former comrade from Sandhurst while waiting to take part in hybrid athletics.
He also rushed over to help a veteran who had fallen out of his wheelchair while competing in the event before helping to get him back into his chair. And he was seen roaring “yes!” in approval while cheering competitors’ efforts. The only sign of alarm in the hall came when a parked up Land Rover, which was in the hall for promotional reasons, began sounding loudly due to its security system sounding, but the disruption was quickly silenced.
Giving a speech at the end of the event, Harry joked about how he had lost hair since the inaugural Invictus Games, which were held in London in 2014. He said: “What has struck me walking around the arena today is just how many faces I recognise from those different groups that were part of that original journey back in 2014.
“Some of us have lost more of our hair. Some of us look older. But I just want to thank you for being so loyal and true to the Invictus community. Every one of you is part of this movement. It wouldn’t be what it is without you.”
Harry also spoke about Meghan and their children while giving a TV interview to This Morning presenter Alison Hammond, who had earlier taken part in the laser race event with him, which included firing a laser gun. During a jokily flirty exchange, Harry told Hammond: “I love your ear rings.” Alison replied: “Thank you babes!”.
Harry added: “By the way, my kids love Junior Bake Off. Absolutely love it and I love it too!”. Alison told him: “Come and do the show!”. Alison later told Harry: “Your kids and Meghan must be so proud of you. Do they tell you every day?” Harry replied: “They don’t tell me every day that they’re proud of me. But yeah, I’m proud of them. They’re proud of me. I love my family.”
Speaking about imitating the ITV presenter on the Stephen Colbert show in the US, Harry said: “They found out that I am one of your secret admirers and I follow your every move. So they said ‘Who do you want to imitate?; I said, “Obviously Alison!’.” Alison invited Harry to her house to watch the football. He said: “Alright, let me think about it!”.
Next year’s games in Birmingham, the first held in Britain since the London games 12 years ago, will see 550 competitors from 25 nations take part in 12 adaptive events. Poignantly, the city’s Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital was where many competitors were treated after suffering life-changing injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Organisers say that as well as being a competition, Invictus provides “a recovery pathway beyond clinical treatment, helping wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans rebuild confidence, identity, purpose and connection through sport”.
Meghan is not expected to attend any public events during her visit to Britain – her first since the late Queen’s funeral in September 2022. She, Archie and Lilibet will reportedly only join Harry for private family events away from the cameras, including a possible reunion between King Charles, 77, and his grandchildren who he hasn’t seen for four years.
It is understood the King has only met Archie on a handful of occasions when Harry and Meghan lived in the UK and only met five-year-old Lilibet once when the family returned for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. It is claimed relations between the King and Harry have remained fractious since he and Meghan decided to quit their royal roles in March 2020 in favour of setting up a new life in the US and he is said to have only met his father just twice in two years.
Harry was stripped of his taxpayer-funded security told he would only qualify on a case-by-case basis after quitting Britain for the US, where he and his family now live in Montecito. He took the British government to court over the issue, but lost a High Court battle last year and then a subsequent appeal.
In January he wrote to the Home Secretary requesting a review of the situation and believed he would be granted security for this week’s trip. That led him to announce on June 26 that Meghan and their children would join him and they would stay at a royal residence – despite not officially accepting the offer of Palace accommodation.
But just 24 hours later he received a letter from the Home Office stating its position had not changed, forcing him to arrange his own security and declare his family would not travel to London with him over safety fears. The duke was waiting for a review by the Risk Management Board in a process involving the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, but found out last Friday that it had yet to take place.
Home Office sources later told the Mirror they believed Harry had attempted to “force the government’s hand” by announcing his family’s intention to travel before receiving the review.
