Prince Harry is back in the UK, hugging TV presenters, playing laser tag, and marking one year until the next Invictus Games. But behind the headlines of his solo appearance and the family tensions lies a story about a sporting event that has changed thousands of lives. The Invictus Games, founded by Harry in 2014, are a multi-sport competition for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women – both current and veteran. They are named after the Latin word for 'unconquered', and they represent resilience in the face of adversity.
The 2027 Games will be held in Birmingham, and this week the Duke of Sussex visited the city's National Exhibition Centre (NEC) – the primary venue – to take part in demonstration events alongside past competitors. He tried pickleball, laser run, and other sports, and even made a surprise appearance on ITV's This Morning with presenter Alison Hammond. His wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie (seven) and Lilibet (five), are also in the UK, but the Duchess did not join Harry at the event. Sources say security concerns were a factor: the couple were refused police protection, and Meghan reportedly stayed away from public events, attending only private family gatherings.
“Explains the Invictus Games, Prince Harry's role, and his current UK visit with family tensions.”
The Invictus Games were first held in London in 2014, with Prince Harry as the driving force. Inspired by his own military service – he served two tours in Afghanistan – he wanted to create a platform that used the power of sport to help rehabilitation. Since then, the Games have taken place in Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, The Hague, and Düsseldorf, each time bringing together hundreds of competitors from nations including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine. Events range from wheelchair basketball to swimming, archery to athletics. The core idea is that recovery doesn't end when a uniform is hung up; sport can help rebuild confidence and purpose.
For UK readers, the Invictus Games have a special resonance because they were born here, and the next edition is on home soil. Birmingham 2027 will be the first time the Games return to Britain since the inaugural event. But the current visit also highlights the ongoing rift in the royal family. Harry has only seen his father, King Charles, twice in the last two and a half years. Charles has not met his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet since the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 – the only time he has ever seen Lilibet. There is speculation that the family's visit could lead to a reunion, with senior aides reportedly working to secure time in the King's diary around his public duties. Meghan herself has not been in the UK since the Queen's funeral in September 2022. Security remains a sticking point: the Sussexes lost their taxpayer-funded police protection after stepping back as senior royals, and they have challenged that decision in court.
Q: What are the Invictus Games? The Invictus Games are an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans, founded by Prince Harry in 2014. They use sport to aid recovery and rehabilitation.
Q: Why is Prince Harry in the UK this week? He is attending a one-year-to-go celebration for the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, taking part in demonstration sports and meeting competitors. His wife Meghan and their children are also in the UK but did not join him at the public events.
Q: Will Prince Harry meet his father King Charles? It is possible. Senior aides have been in talks to arrange a meeting, likely in London on Friday or Saturday, which could be the first time King Charles sees his grandchildren since 2022.
What happens next depends on palace schedules and security arrangements. The 2027 Invictus Games will open in Birmingham in a year's time. For now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are staying at the Spencer family home of Althorp, and all eyes are on whether a family reunion will take place behind closed doors.